Colby
Christopherson
March 2012
Colby
Christopherson
,
RN
Critical Care 5C
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - St. Joseph Medical Center
Tacoma
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

It a beautiful, warm, sunny Sunday that was ordinary for us, but for G it was a day she’ll always remember…
G has been in the hospital for 27 days now, in and out of 5C with multiple complications. As you could only imagine she was starting to feel a little down and out. Each day she seemed to lose that twinkle in her eyes and the smile in her heart. We were all being her cheerleaders, telling her not to give up, and how much we admired her strength, but nothing seemed to cheer her up. It was the weekend and not much was going on so Colby decided to take G on a “date”…. He was determined to make her smile again.
Sunday afternoon, he helped her to the wheelchair and off they went; not returning for over an hour. Colby bought her a smoothie, himself a coffee and together they enjoyed the sunshine…. Something she hadn’t seen or felt in almost 30 days.
When they returned to the unit G was holding her smoothie and had the biggest smile, one that would melt your heart. She said her favorite part was “feeling the breeze on my face.” Her eyes twinkled, that familiar twinkle, the one we were all hoping she would find again. Sunday night she slept so peacefully holding onto her smoothie and the memories of her “date”.
Colby’s compassion for all of his patients is admirable. He is truly an inspiring nurse; someone we all look up to!!