Kevin
Mcneely
May 2013
Kevin
Mcneely
,
RN
Critical Care
Winchester Medical Center
Winchester
,
VA
United States

 

 

 

My daughter was involved in a serious car accident. The weather was inclement and she hit a patch of ice on Route 9 on her way to work in Charles Town, WV. As best we can tell, she hit the ice, went across the median into oncoming traffic, and was hit from behind by an SUV into a guardrail. Although the respondents wanted to Medevac, because of the weather and high winds she was taken by ambulance to City Hospital in Martinsburg, WV. There she was diagnosed with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury. She was stabilized and transported to Winchester Medical Center where she could be better cared for because of the level of trauma she sustained.

My daughter was brought to the hospital and taken immediately into the Intensive Care Unit. We were able to see her and were petrified that we were going to lose our daughter. She was unconscious, unresponsive and clinging to life. We were told that the next 72 hours would be critical to her survival. Early the following morning, an emergency craniotomy was performed to save her life. Since that procedure, she first fought to survive and now continues to fight to regain the life she once had.

I feel very fortunate that just as my daughter was beginning her time within Winchester Medical Center, Kevin was starting a marathon stretch of working consecutive nights and that her care was entrusted to him. While everyone within the Intensive care Unit was responsive, caring and attentive to make certain that she was cared for, Kevin, quite honestly, provided a level of care that was unparalleled. In fact, he provided a level of care that I did not know was possible to attain from any facility, from any professional, under any circumstance.

I can think of no more stressful situation for a parent to endure than to monitor one's child in the Intensive Care Unit with a traumatic brain injury and, initially, not knowing whether she would survive. Then, not knowing whether she would recover at all, what deficits would be encountered and how long life would take to return to normal, if ever.

Kevin will forever have my sincere, heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. He took an unbearable situation and made us feel like there was hope. He gave us the knowledge that there would be good days and bad days but that we should embrace every day as an opportunity to make a difference for my daughter's future. More so than anything, he unknowingly gave us the capability to cope. He accomplished that through your caring, concern and ability to effectively communicate what was going on, what we could expect and what we could do to be a part of the effort to make things better for her. His advice has been spot on throughout my daughter's recovery.

When my daughter arrived at Winchester Medical center, one thought that dominated my mind was that I could not leave. I simply did not want to be apart from my daughter when there were so many uncertainties and so many unknowns. I was prepared to not eat, not sleep and not budge until she was through the woods. However, because of Kevin and the confidence that I have in him, I actually felt like I could go home and eat and sleep. I did. I went home and ate. I went home and slept. I am confident that this short time away from the Medical Center has proven invaluable for me.

There is no way that I would be able to express my appreciation and depth of gratitude for Kevin, for what he does and for how he does it. He is truly exceptional and special. Kevin is an asset to Winchester Medical Center and the main reason I will forever sing praises about our experience.

I am grateful to have my daughter and will savor every opportunity to make her life better as we proceed through her recovery. I can't wait until she can Thank You personally for all that Kevin has done.