December 2016
Lillian
Kamau- Johnson
,
RN
Medical Surgical - Kettering Medical Center
Kettering Health: Kettering MC, Sycamore MC, Kettering Behavioral MC
Kettering
,
OH
United States

 

 

 

My stay and treatment post-op was overcome with confusion and sickness. I was allergic to the pain medication being administered, but I didn't realize it. What I did realize, was that my pain level was increasing and my body was rejecting the drug. I was helpless and vulnerable beyond comprehension. As I lay in bed unable to find any comfort, walking or sitting with my body screaming I prayed to God for help. Enter Lilly, the new nurse in charge. She must have felt my despair, without instruction, she set about reorganizing my tiny space, cleaning up the accumulated trash and disheveled furniture so she could help me. I was not able to communicate what I was feeling. My head was in a fog of drugs and crying, then a special single event occurred.
While Lilly was trying to make the drip machine work, I opened one eye to see her studying me with soul penetrating connection. She noticed I was in serious trouble and she wasn't going to let me suffer. This connection was intangible as it gave me the hope that I wasn't just another patient but horribly suffering human needing help. If you are Christian, your explanation would be, she is an angel sent from God. If you were not religious, you would say nature sent a messenger to administer healing. Either way, this single event sent into motion an evening of healing. My bed was causing me discomfort. I was determined to get through the night. Lilly went into motion remaking my bed, installing a special mattress. I crawled back into bed and for the first time that week I slept for three straight hours.