They shared some vacations in the hospital ward and now this nurse and patient are preparing for Easter with a focus on their shared faith.
By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org
Nurse Allison “Alli” Lehr met Nicole Ambrose for the first time as she was pushed from the operating room to the transplant intensive care unit of IU Medical College Hospital. It was the first week of July and Lehr had just started working at IU Health.
Over time, Lehr, 25, learned more about Ambrose, 42. Like Lehr, Ambrose is married and loves her dog very much. After Ambrose gave birth to son Carson, 14, she experienced a post-pregnancy clotting disorder. As the condition worsened, the blood flow from her abdominal organs was cut off.
A resident of the town of Jessup, Ind., Parke County, Ambrose has undergone a multi-organ transplant. Under the care of Dr. Richard Mangus, she received small and large intestines, stomach, liver and pancreas.
IU Health’s bowel/multiple organ transplant program began in 2003. Adults and children needing bowel transplantation or MVT (intestine combined with two or more intra-abdominal organs) benefit from resection. IU Health patient-centered. The multidisciplinary team determines the best course of treatment for each patient. In 2022, IU Health performed 459 transplants or 79% of the total 581 transplants performed in Indiana.
For many patients, like Ambrose, the recovery time is long. Lehr knew firsthand about that recovery.
Lehr, who received her nursing degree three years ago from IUPUI, said: “I have always had a desire to help people, especially those who are going through the most difficult times. Five years ago, her father underwent a heart transplant, which left a lasting impact on Lehr’s focus on career.
Ambrose was the first multi-organ patient in Lehr’s care.
As the days passed by, Lehr learned more and more about Ambrose. They shared a deep connection through their Catholic faith. Each day they prayed together and received Communion together, by the hospital chaplains. They also share a love of reality TV, especially “The Bachelor”, “The Kardashians” and “Real Housewives”. Ambrose also made Lehr fall in love with basketball.
“My favorite part about my relationship with Nikki is that we do daily prayers during each of my shifts. We read together and then we talk about all the positive sides of our faith. It helps both of us by keeping our eyes on Jesus and remembering how wonderful he is at everything. I am so grateful for our special friendship,” Lehr said.
Before her illness, Ambrose worked as a counselor at a children’s correctional facility. Lehr said much of that gentle instruction came out when she spoke to Ambrose.
“She’s here in this bed, trying to heal and she’s been a crazy inspiration to all of us. She was the sweetest and very positive about her fight,” Lehr said. She’s not the only nurse influenced by Ambrose. Lydia Stone and Lisa Schutz-Bentaieb also enjoy spending time with Ambrose. They joined forces to hang twinkling lights in Ambrose’s room. Lehr covered the walls of Ambrose’s room with white paper angels with inspirational sayings, such as “Focus on me” and scriptures. There is also a funny quote by Khloe Kardashian.
“Everybody loves Nikki. She makes OUR days better,” said Stone. Another patient who had undergone a multi-organ transplant also tried to visit Ambrose and bring her candy.
Music is an important part of their shared relationship. It’s not uncommon to hear Kane Brown tunes playing in the shower. As another holiday approached, Ambrose expressed her sadness at missing Easter at home. Lehr did what she had done many times before – pamper her patients a little more. There was a time when she dyed and styled Ambrose’s hair. For this holiday, she washes her hair, braids it, and paints her nails in the soothing colors of spring. When Lehr first started her career working in nursing homes, she used to paint the nails of female residents.
“Nichole talked about how she hid Easter eggs for her son. We might have to find a way to make that happen when her husband and son come to visit,” Lehr said. “We spent Christmas and Valentine’s Day together and here we are, marking the time and trying to make the best of her recovery. This is one of the things I love about my colleagues and patients in transplants. I think at IU Health, we take great pride in being more than just health professionals for our patients,” Lehr said. “We try to celebrate with them and do everything we can to encourage them to keep fighting.
