Carrie Stone
Northside Hospital Forsyth
Carolyn Booker, who nominates Carrie Stone refers to Stone as a “force of nature” and, based on her passion for her profession, it’s easy to see how this is true.
Stone claims that nursing is a profession that has “grown me so much for the past 34 years,” but even before she chose her career, her love for all things biology was apparent
Stone explains that caring for those in need is instinctive when you do it all the time and says she has even stopped in the past when she sees a situation where she might offer assistance. This past December however, she says she made a stop that was the most meaningful ever.
“I was taking my dogs to the vet and saw that a cyclist was down on the road. People had stopped, but he was face down, and on second glance, he had not moved, and no one was doing anything for him. I parked in the median, stopped three lanes of traffic on Highway 20, and ran to see if I could help. The cyclist, who I now know well, was Darryl, an otherwise healthy 55 year old man who was in cardiac arrest.”
A bystander was on the phone with 911 but Stone says, “I immediately got help turning him over (to protect the neck, of course) and started chest compressions and airway support. The greatest feeling ever was seeing his color start to change for the better after about 10 compressions.”
The paramedics arrived and took Darryl to Northside Forsyth. And, Stone says despite the fact that she deals with serious situations everyday, she went on to the vet because her heart needed a chance to calm down. Later, she went to the hospital to check on Darryl.
Stone, Darryl and his family have forged a special bond, one that has lasted well past his health crisis. So far, the two have taught 40 CPR classes and have many more planned.
One of most special moments was when Darryl, in ICU, in the fog of a concussion, reached for Stone’s hand when she came through the door and called her his angel.
She says, “Being a nurse, wow, what a privilege. I thank God for all that he has exposed me to and how he has allowed me to help others in so many dimensions. My repetitive prayer is that He will continue to use the gifts, talents, and experiences that He has given me to continue to help others. Angel - thank you Darryl, I like the feeling I get when I am called that.”
