We currently have a patient who was severely burned that has been on our unit for five months. The family has been at his bedside the whole time so we have had the opportunity to learn a lot of what our patient was like before the injury through their stories and pictures. One of his passions is river rafting and to send encouragement, his friends all signed an oar and it lives in his room. Kelly is very close with the wife after spending many days and nights providing impeccable critical care through his course. It was approaching his birthday and she wanted to do something nice for him and his family so she organized a birthday party with a rafting theme.
She constructed a mountain with a waterfall of raging rapids full of origami boats afloat in the water. She made little flags for the boats representing his favorite things, like the Colorado flag. To complete the festive atmosphere, Kelly hung up a happy birthday sign, streamers and balloons.
The patient's wife wanted to share how Kelly's thoughtful planning impacted the whole family:
"I have learned that it takes a very special person to be a burn nurse. Kelly is a very special person, a very experienced and exceptionally talented nurse who I have come to trust and rely on through some of the most challenging times. Her capacity to open her heart to my husband and me is truly comforting. I am very grateful to her for everything she did to organize the celebration of his birthday, that was a truly momentous effort. I watch as she leads the team and mentors the new grads and am so thankful that Kelly Touhy is here taking care of us."