Loryn R Schopke
February 2025
Loryn R
Schopke
,
RN
NSICU
UNC Hospitals
Chapel Hill
,
NC
United States
Loryn confirmed, and when I saw movement coming from my Dad, she- oh so gently- but with such a knowledgeable look in her eye, but with confidence, told me what I didn't want to hear.
I wanted to reach out to you with my utmost and sincerest gratitude for the recent urgent care of my father, E, and for the absolute compassionate care and comfort provided to me and my family by your team. Although the outcome was not what I so desperately wished and hoped for, I left with a sense of peace and security knowing he was and would be treated with the most care and respect.
The Neuro team made the decision to attempt to help him when 2 blood clots broke free from his heart and occluded both sides of his brain at the same time. My Dad was flown, unresponsive, but determined to be an acceptable candidate for the very complicated surgery of removing the clots. I was called by medical staff and educated on every aspect of his situation, the procedure, and the possible outcomes. Despite the successful outcome of the procedure, my Dad developed complications with swelling from a stroke and succumbed to these. As amazing and kind as the doctors were during this process, your staff and providers on the Neuro ICU unit were unequaled in their skill and compassion.
When I came into the hospital room, it was about 5:30 pm. After I was given the space I needed to be with my Dad, I was immediately greeted by his nurse, Loryn. Soon after, a provider came in and let me know where we stood. Loryn confirmed, and when I saw movement coming from my Dad, she- oh so gently- but with such a knowledgeable look in her eye, but with confidence, told me what I didn't want to hear. Those were just spinal reflexes and not intentional movements. Her compassion was palpable in her caring face and tear-filled eyes.
In 2005, I had an infant in the NICU for 5 months before we lost him. I know nurses and practitioners. I know you cannot be surrounded by pain and death and mourning families day in and day out, and let it get in your soul as a medical professional. There is a wall of protection they need to have around their hearts to be able to provide the care that is so desperately needed to the patient. The nursing staff let me inside that wall- they could see that I needed that level of comfort and understanding. They sacrificed a bit of themselves to demonstrate love and humanity, which was so important to me.
My son, my best friend, my father, and I were treated with the utmost compassion and love. As a business owner, I understand the value of employees who are dedicated and take pride in their work. Your care team, each and every one of them, whether they touched our situation or not (there was a male nurse at the end who was so kind and gentle with us as well) were skilled and compassionate. The level of respect we were treated with was indelible and overwhelming.
The Neuro team made the decision to attempt to help him when 2 blood clots broke free from his heart and occluded both sides of his brain at the same time. My Dad was flown, unresponsive, but determined to be an acceptable candidate for the very complicated surgery of removing the clots. I was called by medical staff and educated on every aspect of his situation, the procedure, and the possible outcomes. Despite the successful outcome of the procedure, my Dad developed complications with swelling from a stroke and succumbed to these. As amazing and kind as the doctors were during this process, your staff and providers on the Neuro ICU unit were unequaled in their skill and compassion.
When I came into the hospital room, it was about 5:30 pm. After I was given the space I needed to be with my Dad, I was immediately greeted by his nurse, Loryn. Soon after, a provider came in and let me know where we stood. Loryn confirmed, and when I saw movement coming from my Dad, she- oh so gently- but with such a knowledgeable look in her eye, but with confidence, told me what I didn't want to hear. Those were just spinal reflexes and not intentional movements. Her compassion was palpable in her caring face and tear-filled eyes.
In 2005, I had an infant in the NICU for 5 months before we lost him. I know nurses and practitioners. I know you cannot be surrounded by pain and death and mourning families day in and day out, and let it get in your soul as a medical professional. There is a wall of protection they need to have around their hearts to be able to provide the care that is so desperately needed to the patient. The nursing staff let me inside that wall- they could see that I needed that level of comfort and understanding. They sacrificed a bit of themselves to demonstrate love and humanity, which was so important to me.
My son, my best friend, my father, and I were treated with the utmost compassion and love. As a business owner, I understand the value of employees who are dedicated and take pride in their work. Your care team, each and every one of them, whether they touched our situation or not (there was a male nurse at the end who was so kind and gentle with us as well) were skilled and compassionate. The level of respect we were treated with was indelible and overwhelming.