Trauma Patient Story

"I really believe that if I'd gone to another hospital,
I wouldn't be here today."

A Story of Survival

LAST YEAR, MEMORIAL’S TRAUMA TEAM
SAVED THE LIVES OF 89 PEOPLE who had suffered critical injuries. Cliff Bosley was one of them.

“Memorial played a major part in my recovery,” Bosley says. “I really believe that if I’d gone to another hospital, I wouldn’t be here today.”

On October 7, 2008, Bosley was injured in a head-on motor vehicle collision and transported to Memorial’s trauma center by Medi-Flight helicopter. He was immediately activated as a critical trauma patient due to his extremely low blood pressure.

“Mr. Bosley was suffering from hemorrhagic shock due to blood loss from his injuries, and contributing to that was a pre-existing clotting disorder,” recalls his Trauma Nurse Clinician, Sharon Perry, R.N.

Memorial’s trauma team attended to Bosley’s multiple medical issues, which included a broken hip, femur and pelvis, and severe trauma to his stomach, kidneys and intestines. The staff administered blood products and pain medication, and performed a full barrage of x-rays, CT scans and lab tests. In the operating room, Memorial’s surgical team stabilized his orthopedic fractures, kidney injuries and internal bleeding.

Bosley spent weeks in skeletal traction to treat his broken leg and on temporary dialysis after losing one kidney and sustaining serious trauma to the other. He overcame his injuries with a positive attitude and the compassionate care provided in Memorial’s Intensive Care Unit, Acute Multi-Care Unit and Telemetry Department.

“Memorial’s staff cares about what they’re doing, and I’m glad they care so much,” Bosley says. “Some of my nurses came by to check on me after their shifts were over, even after I had been transferred out of their wards and into someone else’s hands. That means a lot to me.”

Bosley was discharged to an area rehabilitation facility on November 20 and returned home on December 23.

“My whole experience at Memorial was positive,” Bosley says. “I appreciate Memorial’s team concept — everyone from the ICU staff through orthopedics to trauma did a fantastic job of working together, getting me stabilized and back on track. My wife and daughters spent a lot of time in Memorial’s hallways and waiting rooms, and housekeeping staff even came up to them offering to get them something to drink. The whole team was phenomenal. If they hadn’t done what they did, I wouldn’t be here.” WATCH THE STORIES | SHARE YOUR STORY