The Move

2/20/2013 (had hoped to post this last week). After 2+ months Dina was transitioned from the Cardiac Surgical ICU to the Respiratory Acute Care Unit. This was a big move but also bittersweet. The staff in the ICU became like family. The nurses (some of who I’m still in contact with), the social worker (who I am still in contact with), the physical therapist, the psych people and even the receptionist that knew many of us by name…they were all amazing. The move was happening around shift change and her favorite night nurse came in just as she was about to leave. She and Dina both started crying as soon as they saw each other. They saved Dina’s life and got her to the point where she was ready to be moved to another unit. There was nothing more that we could have asked of them. And they treated me and her other daily and regular visitors just as well. They made sure we had the support we needed and got us through some very difficult times. This is not to take anything away from the staff on the RACU. They were great as well and brought her even further along, but we just didn’t form the same connections there. The folks at the ICU will always have a special spot in my heart.