Blood on the Brain

On Aug 17, 2023, I presented to St. Joseph's Hospital via ambulance in an unconscious state. Prior to, I had just returned from Sam's Club, from picking up a few items when I suddenly felt a strange sensation inside my head starting at the base of my skull slowly traveling upward throughout my head and instantly knew something was terribly terribly wrong.

So, I started to walk fast to get inside my apartment and by this time I also felt like I was going to regurgitate and did, just as I made it to the bathroom. After doing so, I immediately called 911 and told the operator "I'm dying" she stated I wasn't dying and proceeded to ask me all the pertinent questions to get the ambulance to me as quickly as possible. I laid there on the floor for what seemed like forever. Then, I heard the paramedics announce they were entering and they asked me if I could walk, to which I replied "No." That's all I remember of that day.

The next day my sister emerged from the back of the room to inform me that I had suffered a brain bleed called a Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, and the doctors had performed a life-saving procedure by placing an external ventricular drain (EVD) into my brain and I was currently in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

My length of stay in the Neuro ICU ended up being three distressing weeks of medical imaging, several angiogram procedures, and observation. But I was fortunate to encounter multiple nurses with the utmost professionalism, and surprisingly a genuine concern and compassion towards me and my family members who'd flown in from different states. I know some may think, this sounds like an expected trait for nurses but as a veteran whose seen my share of medical professionals here and abroad St. Joseph's nurses outshines most!

So much so, that once I was discharged, I was determined to find a way to show my gratitude and submitted DAISY Award nominations for each of them, citing their exceptional care and individual characteristics of what "going above and beyond" meant to both me and my family. Because they certainly ensured we felt welcomed, comfortable, and informed during my entire stay in the hospital. Thank you so much St. Joseph's Barrow Neurological Institute ICU (4N).

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