Readers share stories of the nurses they’ll never forget
The Baltimore Sun shares stories exploring nursing during National Nurses Week
For National Nurses Week, we asked readers to tell us about the nurses you’ll never forget. The stories you shared speak to the many roles nurses play: caregiver, clinician, coach, confidante or simply a link to the outside world. Some spent weeks with their nurses, forging friendships that continue today. For others, a few brief moments made a lifelong impression.
Below is a sampling of the stories you shared. Some have been edited for clarity and length.
‘Toughest night,’ best day
For Eastern Shore resident Lisa Cody, the toughest night during her weeklong stay at Mercy Medical Center in 2018 came after saying goodbye to her then fiancé, Reggie Cody, and 2-year-old son, Jeremy, following a visit. Admitted due to bleeding from placenta previa that came 20 weeks into her pregnancy, Cody found comfort from nurses June Evans and Jennifer Jones. Into the wee hours, the three talked about raising kids, compared Disney trips and kept Cody’s mind off her trying situation.
Three months later, Cody was happy to see Evans there to help bring her daughter, Jaedyn, into the world. That October, Evans and Jones spoke at Cody’s wedding. “They gave a speech about how strong I was with everything I went through and how every time they saw me I had a smile on my face,” said Cody, 39. “Little did they know it was all because of them.”
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Career inspiration
“Tracy is an ER nurse. But more importantly, she is my sister. While still in nursing school, she suspected I had pneumonia just by listening to my lungs. My parents took me to the ER and it saved my life. Not only is she my big sister but she’s my hero. She is the reason why I want to be a nurse!”
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“Hazel made such an impression that it brings me comfort even today, 13 years later. I was terrified and briefly alone before my husband could come back to the prep area before surgery. Hazel wasn’t very talkative, but went about her task, tenderly starting my IV without much pain. When she finished taping it, she took out a marker and drew an angel on the tape. She said, ‘You’re going to be OK.’ I didn’t tell her I was afraid, but she sensed it and responded so beautifully.”
Helping new nurses learn the stuff not taught in class and guiding them through difficult situations makes her a champion. There are few like her: Critical thinkers who can see beyond the here-and-now and allowing others to succeed. She is one of the best!”
Carrie Ellis thanking Tracy Barresi at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore