Amazing-Grace Ighedo
April 2019
Amazing
Ighedo
,
BSN, RN, BA, CCRN
SNICU
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City
,
IA
United States

 

 

 

My father was an inpatient in the SNICU. He dealt with major trauma, suffering a fall resulting in lumbar fractures and a calcaneus fracture. From the time my mother and I arrived, we were overwhelmed, worried, concerned, and upset. My father was in a great deal of pain. At shift change in the morning, we were introduced to Amazing-Grace. From the minute she made her presence, she was very attentive and comforting. She took the time to listen to my father's concerns, our concerns, and kept us informed of any information as it became available.
One thing that Amazing-Grace did that greatly touched my heart was place her hand on my father's arm and offered reassurance. As he left the room for his procedure, she took the time to listen to my mother's concerns and gave my mother a hug. This type of compassion is not a trait learned in school. It is a true character-defined sincerity that is very difficult to find in people. In her presence, my father wasn't just a bed number. He was a patient that she truly cared for. She spoke to him at his level (bedside, not from across the room) not as a piece of furniture, but as an individual who was scared and in pain. I cannot express enough how much her care meant to my family during this difficult time.
Thank you, Amazing-Grace, for being a true angel. You are a rare find, and we are so fortunate to have crossed paths with you.