Royal Alex Hospital

I phoned the Royal Alex Hospital in Edmonton today and I asked for any of the nurses Jason had when we were there in 2008. A nurse kindly told me that Matthew, a nurse we held in high regard and who we all got close too in those 4 weeks at the CCU, was coming on his shift in an hour. So I called back. At first when I introduced myself he wasn't remembering me but when I mentioned Jason and the military he remembered. He asked me first if Jason was OK and I said yes and he quickly told me he had goosebumps. I gave him the Coles notes version of our life right up to the ICD implant and Matthew was so happy. He couldn't wait to tell his manager and the other nurses. He told me it was the best news he had had in the past 3 months. He thanked me for calling and I thanked him and the staff for all of their care back in 2008. I remembered that Matthew had told me that the staff at the CCU never get to hear the good stories. People who happily go home go about their lives and forget to give updates to the staff so that was my goal today. For the most part the CCU nurses see the details of pain and then death and how it affects the families, they sometimes need reminding why they do what they do, one good story can erase 3 months of loss in an intensive care unit. That's why I called today.