On a Friday morning around 2:30 a.m. we went into labor with our second child. Both nervous and excited, we started our 45 minute drive to Methodist Germantown for the delivery of our beautiful daughter. Everything was perfect. Once our daughter was ready, she made a quick appearance. It was perfect. The staff was supportive. 24 hours later and well into the weekend, we were getting ready for discharge. We were ready to go home and be together as a family. Two minutes from walking out of the door, and talking to our baby’s nurse, I became dizzy. I could not form questions or words or communicate what was happening. My right side went numb. It became apparent to my husband and the nurse that something was wrong. Our daughter’s nurse called for another nurse’s assistance. This was when Michelle Wagner stepped in to help take charge of the situation. The Medical Response Team was called in. According to their assessment, there was nothing further that needed to be done. During these moments, when fear and worry were heightened when the medical team’s assessment contradicted what we felt was happening, Michelle questioned the assessment with the Medical Response Team. Michelle began to heavily advocate for our care out of her compassion, intelligence, and experience. She did not let the moment go without the team reassessing and calling a Code Stroke. 

Once that was set into action, I was admitted to ICU, received TPA, and the medical team handled our care with excellence. Our OB/GYN came in on the weekend, the nurses were attentive and knowledgeable, and the staff was tender and compassionate towards our family visiting and keeping them updated so late into the night. Because of the TPA, I was able to gain my speech and function back. Michelle checked on me in the ICU and kept communication open with the ICU nurses so that they would feel comfortable calling the postpartum floor with any questions about my care. She helped guide the ICU nurses through taking care of my bleeding and post-delivery care. She went above and beyond what was asked of her. During this experience, Michelle portrayed high-quality care that asks nurses and other healthcare members to be advocates for the people in their care. Advocacy is not merely with the outside world, but advocacy can, at times, mean questioning our peers. And this takes courage, experience, and integrity. 

Our lives have truly been changed by Michelle’s actions. The quality of care that she provided for us did not just save my life, but it saved my quality of life. Her compassionate care and advocacy mean that tonight I am at home with my family. It means that I get to securely hold and hug my husband, my toddler, and my newborn. Her excellence means that this mom gets to lay her kids down at night and successfully say, “I love you.” And that is extraordinary.