August 2012
Marc
Steelman
,
RNII
Emergency Center
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
St. Petersburg
,
FL
United States
When we first met Marc, C was 18 days old and going to the catheterization lab for a potential stent for his shunt which clotted and required emergency bedside reopening just 7 days prior. Marc introduced himself with the perfect combination of dedication, professionalism, and humor, which helped me handle the separation from C a little better. C returned from the catheterization lab safe and extubated for the first time since his Norwood.
A few weeks later, Marc offered to help take C down for an Upper GI Tract. This was the second time C had to go through this and I was not happy about it. Nonetheless, Marc listened to her concerns about C during the study and relayed them to all involved. During the study Marc was proactive in making sure C was not too upset and that I was able to console him when he had been crying for too long.
The third time we were reacquainted with Marc was on May 21st for C’s second trip to the catheterization lab for ballooning of his narrowing and obstructed Aortic Arch. At this time, C was only 68 days old and his heart was very sick; his function was severely depressed and his body was fatigued. Before being wheeled back to the lab, Marc promised me and Daddy that C was in good hands and they would take good care of him. Having all the confidence in Marc, Dr. Stapleton, and the team, I replied, “I know you will.” C made it through the procedure but when they took him off the ventilator, his heart started to fail. He required 50 minutes of unresponsive CPR and had to be placed on ECMO to survive. Luckily, C only had to be on ECMO for two days and when he came off it was like it never happened. He was back to the same happy baby as before, although his heart still needed to be surgically repaired.
Marc stopped in the day after he came off ECMO. Marc seemed reserved in his approach because of C’s code. We explained to Marc that we know he did everything he could to help C during his code and reassured him that his quick reactions and problem solving skills enabled C’s body to recover from the arrest quickly and free of brain damage. We believe Marc followed through on the promise he made to us that he would take good care of our son, because he did. He helped keep him alive.
The next week, Marc stopped back in to check on C a couple times, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. That Thursday C laughed for the first time- a real giggle to accompany his heartwarming smile. Marc was in the room when this happened and I reminded Marc that had he not been so quick to react with attention to detail, we would have never been able to hear his first laugh.
All of Marc’s actions, his attention to detail, and his demeanor truly express his compassion, empathy, and dedication for his patients and their families. We will be forever grateful for each moment C was in Marc’s care. We know he will continue to positively impact many more lives the way he did ours. Thank you, Marc.
A few weeks later, Marc offered to help take C down for an Upper GI Tract. This was the second time C had to go through this and I was not happy about it. Nonetheless, Marc listened to her concerns about C during the study and relayed them to all involved. During the study Marc was proactive in making sure C was not too upset and that I was able to console him when he had been crying for too long.
The third time we were reacquainted with Marc was on May 21st for C’s second trip to the catheterization lab for ballooning of his narrowing and obstructed Aortic Arch. At this time, C was only 68 days old and his heart was very sick; his function was severely depressed and his body was fatigued. Before being wheeled back to the lab, Marc promised me and Daddy that C was in good hands and they would take good care of him. Having all the confidence in Marc, Dr. Stapleton, and the team, I replied, “I know you will.” C made it through the procedure but when they took him off the ventilator, his heart started to fail. He required 50 minutes of unresponsive CPR and had to be placed on ECMO to survive. Luckily, C only had to be on ECMO for two days and when he came off it was like it never happened. He was back to the same happy baby as before, although his heart still needed to be surgically repaired.
Marc stopped in the day after he came off ECMO. Marc seemed reserved in his approach because of C’s code. We explained to Marc that we know he did everything he could to help C during his code and reassured him that his quick reactions and problem solving skills enabled C’s body to recover from the arrest quickly and free of brain damage. We believe Marc followed through on the promise he made to us that he would take good care of our son, because he did. He helped keep him alive.
The next week, Marc stopped back in to check on C a couple times, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. That Thursday C laughed for the first time- a real giggle to accompany his heartwarming smile. Marc was in the room when this happened and I reminded Marc that had he not been so quick to react with attention to detail, we would have never been able to hear his first laugh.
All of Marc’s actions, his attention to detail, and his demeanor truly express his compassion, empathy, and dedication for his patients and their families. We will be forever grateful for each moment C was in Marc’s care. We know he will continue to positively impact many more lives the way he did ours. Thank you, Marc.