Briana N McCallay
May 2025
Briana N
McCallay
,
RN
ICU
Oklahoma City VA Medical Center
Oklahoma City
,
OK
United States
I was never worried about him being in her care because her care was palpable. Briana was sweet, tender, and nurturing; someone I felt had truly found her calling, and my dad felt it too.
My dad was admitted to the OKC VA Hospital for a respiratory infection, which caused him to go into diabetic ketoacidosis. My brothers and I, all veterans also, understandably worry when our dad gets admitted to the hospital. We try to be there as much as possible, but with work and family, that’s not always feasible. I was an Air Force medic myself, and a patient advocate for many years, so I know a thing or two about patient care, especially our most precious veteran population. While I was with my dad, two Earth Angels stood out to me. Briana (Bri) in the MICU was an outstanding nurse; she was so attentive, patient, and kind with my dad. He even felt so comfortable with her, while I was there, to tell her it was my deceased brother's 44th birthday; a veteran who had passed in 2012 at the age of 30 when he was home on his R&R from Afghanistan. When I had to leave my dad, I was never worried about him being in her care because her care was palpable. Briana was sweet, tender, and nurturing; someone I felt had truly found her calling, and my dad felt it too.
A few days later, I arrived at the VA to take my dad home. The doctor had told him hours before that he should be going home around noon, so I arrived at 1130 to make sure he had everything packed up. He was tired, restless, and aching for home and a hot shower, but we still had to wait for the discharge order to come through. I had to bug multiple people to remove his IVs and monitors to let him get dressed. As we were waiting, a woman walked into the room with his lunch. Unfortunately, I did not get her name. She said, Are you leaving already? I’m going to miss you, but I’m happy you get to go home. Thank you for your service, and then she proceeded to give my dad the biggest hug. I honestly felt like she meant every word and I wanted to cry.
We hear horror stories every day about veterans’ care, or lack thereof, and we are all very aware that systemic change MUST occur within our US healthcare system, but these two sweet souls also showed me that, regardless, they will go above and beyond to care for one of our more vulnerable populations, and that their sacrifices mean something. I am writing this letter in hopes that Briana and the beautiful soul who brought my dad his lunch get the kudos they deserve.
A few days later, I arrived at the VA to take my dad home. The doctor had told him hours before that he should be going home around noon, so I arrived at 1130 to make sure he had everything packed up. He was tired, restless, and aching for home and a hot shower, but we still had to wait for the discharge order to come through. I had to bug multiple people to remove his IVs and monitors to let him get dressed. As we were waiting, a woman walked into the room with his lunch. Unfortunately, I did not get her name. She said, Are you leaving already? I’m going to miss you, but I’m happy you get to go home. Thank you for your service, and then she proceeded to give my dad the biggest hug. I honestly felt like she meant every word and I wanted to cry.
We hear horror stories every day about veterans’ care, or lack thereof, and we are all very aware that systemic change MUST occur within our US healthcare system, but these two sweet souls also showed me that, regardless, they will go above and beyond to care for one of our more vulnerable populations, and that their sacrifices mean something. I am writing this letter in hopes that Briana and the beautiful soul who brought my dad his lunch get the kudos they deserve.