The Sole Survivor
Date: January 25, 2010

No matter who you speak with about that night in trauma room 18, one name keeps resurfacing–Dana Bryant.

A licensed practical nurse and Floyd employee for 10 years, Dana had seen trauma before, but it wasn’t Brandon Dillard’s physical injuries that concerned her. “I knew his body would heal, but it was his mental health that worried me,” she says.

The crash happened early in the morning of August 23, 2009. Brandon, 27, and three friends were driving southbound on Everett Springs Road, when the driver lost control of the Jeep Wrangler, striking a tree, and the vehicle burst into flames.

The two passengers in the front seat were killed on impact. A third passenger was ejected from the Jeep and later died. Brandon, the only survivor, was in the back seat and managed to crawl away from the burning flames.

He was taken to the Emergency Care Center at Floyd Medical Center.

Tamra Landry was the clinical coordinator on-duty that night.

When Brandon first came in, he was conscious, but very confused. He was very curious about the condition of his friends. It was a real emotional night, hard on all the staff. Dana was Brandon’s primary nurse. She is extremely good with trauma, she’s got a smart gut. She knows what to do to get it done. She’s one of those nurses that can be tough, but then she can be real sweet too. She’s got a way with people. They remember her.

Dana contacted Brandon’s family and told them he was okay, but they needed to come.  Brandon’s mother received the call.

We got to the ER around 3 a.m. Dana came out and explained everything from the time the accident happened until we arrived. She wanted us to know what his night had been like. I know my son is grown, but he’ll always be my baby. Dana was like a mother hen. I can’t tell you how compassionate that girl is. She was so kind. I don’t know how many patients she had that night, but she made us feel like we were the only ones in that ER. She has millions of patients, and I know we were just a glitch in a couple of hours. When she gets to heaven, there’s gon’ be a halo for her that won’t quit. We will never forget her or Floyd Medical Center.

In her care, Dana kept Brandon informed of everything that happened. She was the first person to ask him if there was anyone she needed to contact. Before police officers or the coroner were allowed in his room, she took the time to make sure he was okay answering questions. Dana was the one to break the news to Brandon that he was the sole survivor. And, when Brandon was admitted to the hospital, Dana visited him.

Brandon suffered seven fractured vertebrae in his neck and back, a shattered right collar bone, a concussion and a bruised lung and bowel. After 14 weeks of physical therapy and several surgeries, Brandon is back to work today.

Everyone that cared for me was top of the line, no questions asked. Dana went above and beyond what she had to do. She stayed with me and didn’t leave my side for one moment. Anything I asked, she did. The care I received meant a lot to me because it was personalized.   

Four months after the accident, when Brandon was well on his way to healing, he and his parents came back to the ECC to thank Dana for the outstanding care she provided. It was a week before Christmas and she was completely surprised.

They brought me an ornament for my tree, a cake to share with everyone, a basket of plants and flowers and a beautiful card. He was truly the nice guy I thought he was. He was smiling and he looked genuinely happy–that made it for me. It was the best Christmas I‘ve ever had.

In our quest to provide care that is well beyond expectations, we often don’t realize the impact we have on the lives of patients and families. In a patient’s time of need, there is not one touch or kind word that goes unnoticed. Brandon and his family are one example in a sea of opportunities we, as healthcare workers, have each day to make a special difference.

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