March 2026
Mackenzie
Henry
,
RN
SICU
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland
Portland
,
ME
United States
Mack set the tone for me, as a family member and caregiver, that helped me throughout this entire process.
My wife was in a car accident and was airlifted to Maine Med in the middle of the night. Her injuries kept her in the SCU for 3 weeks, and almost all of those days were spent unconscious. It was an unthinkable situation that felt so huge and unmanageable. Aside from the grief and the stress of not knowing if your loved one is going to make it out of the hospital, there is just a wave of information that hits you every day. Especially in the SCU, when their condition can change drastically at any moment.
I was in awe of every bedside nurse, every specialist, every resident, the attending, all the PAs and NPs, who worked on my wife to get her better, and I'm forever in their debt, but one person stands out. Mack was one of the first to care for her in the very beginning stages. What stood out to me was his command of the situation, as it was at its most acute and precarious. While she was on a dozen different IVs, and her brain was continuing to swell, and pneumonias developed, Mack was on top of everything. When the residents and the attending made their rounds, Mack was front and center, and everyone's eyes were glued on him when he spoke.
I spent most of my time in the room with my wife during those early days, and I saw Mack work with energy and enthusiasm that never faltered, despite the long hours required of his role. He was always professional, always trying to make my wife better, and carried himself with confidence that resonated with my family and me. He was an excellent communicator. He spoke to me honestly and with respect to my situation, but was incredibly warm and empathetic. He also had a wonderful orientee, Alexis, whom he assisted, and he treated her with the same kind of respect and professionalism. They made a great team.
Mack set the tone for me, as a family member and caregiver, that helped me throughout this entire process. His confidence and professionalism made me calmer and hopeful, and his communication helped me process the information I needed to be a better advocate, and his energy kept me going in some of the hardest and darkest moments.
I was in awe of every bedside nurse, every specialist, every resident, the attending, all the PAs and NPs, who worked on my wife to get her better, and I'm forever in their debt, but one person stands out. Mack was one of the first to care for her in the very beginning stages. What stood out to me was his command of the situation, as it was at its most acute and precarious. While she was on a dozen different IVs, and her brain was continuing to swell, and pneumonias developed, Mack was on top of everything. When the residents and the attending made their rounds, Mack was front and center, and everyone's eyes were glued on him when he spoke.
I spent most of my time in the room with my wife during those early days, and I saw Mack work with energy and enthusiasm that never faltered, despite the long hours required of his role. He was always professional, always trying to make my wife better, and carried himself with confidence that resonated with my family and me. He was an excellent communicator. He spoke to me honestly and with respect to my situation, but was incredibly warm and empathetic. He also had a wonderful orientee, Alexis, whom he assisted, and he treated her with the same kind of respect and professionalism. They made a great team.
Mack set the tone for me, as a family member and caregiver, that helped me throughout this entire process. His confidence and professionalism made me calmer and hopeful, and his communication helped me process the information I needed to be a better advocate, and his energy kept me going in some of the hardest and darkest moments.