Trauma nurse dies in auto accident Sept. 28
Renee Branca Jett, R.N., 39, who was employed in the MUSC Medical Center’s Trauma Unit, died Sept. 28 in an automobile accident.
Renee
Jett, right, with Tica Gaymon, colleague and friend.
Ms. Jett was born in St. Louis, Mo. on Dec. 28, 1963. She was the daughter of John C. Branca Sr., and Faye Shelton Branca Fuller.
She was a graduate of the College of Charleston with a degree in biology and a graduate of 1995 MUSC's College of Nursing.
She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Summerville, and resided on James Island.
She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Fuller of St. Louis, Mo.; one daughter: Aivry T. Jett of James Island, S.C.; three sisters: Gina Albert and her husband, Kevin, Carol R. Hume and her husband, Jim, and Terry A. Coleman all of St. Louis, Mo.; one brother: John C. Branca, Jr. and his wife Rita of Boston Mass.; five nieces, seven nephews, and her special companion, Kenneth Michael Willis of Summerville, S.C. Her father, John C. Branca Sr. and brother, Mark Walters predeceased her.
Relatives and friends attended funeral services Oct. 2 at the J. Henry Stuhr Downtown Chapel. A private burial was held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials were made to the Aivry T. Jett Educational
Fund, Bank of America. Memorials may still be accepted at any branch.
I guess sometimes God takes the most beautiful flower in the garden
for his own.
—Chip Tinley, R.N.
Operations Coordinator, Emergency Department
Renee was not only my co-worker but also my best friend. We met
here at MUSC and began our friendship from that day forward. What I remember
most about her was her smile and high energy. She never seemed to lose
speed in our busy work place. She was always willing to jump in and help
everyone and she especially loved taking care of trauma patients. She will
be greatly missed. There will always be a void in our department without
her here.
—Tica Gaymon, R.N.
1W Trauma Unit
The bewilderment beyond these words still reaches for a beating heart;
disbelief
clings to the robust and colorful laugh that yet lingers in our ears; gestures,
expressions and mannerisms, always effervescent, remain fresh in our mind’s
eye; Renee truly loved and fully lived, to be in her presence these qualities
were unavoidable; like crystal, at once both fragile and invincible, this
same life recognizes no favorites nor biases; savor this moment of pain
we feel now, for it is but a small window from which to know the pain that
those closest to Renee will awaken to for months and years; she wished
no ill, she was a champion for the cause of fun; never a mother more proud,
I met Aivry twice, I heard of her every time we worked together; hear the
timbre of Renee’s voice…. “She is such a good kid”…; life after death remains
obscure, but with vivid certainty we can witness eternal life among the
living. Every life touched by Renee has changed, some of us in small ways,
others have known the feel of her hands directly upon the clay of our being;
the memories, now haunting, will with time be supplanted by Renee’s joy
and unbridled spirit; the woman lost will emerge in the woman becoming;
these words lie powerless before grief; if not as small tribute.
—Fredrick H. Veser, M.D.
1W Trauma Unit
Renee was a wonderful person and an excellent nurse. As I am
writing this I still cannot believe that I am referring to her in the past
tense. Her death has been a devastating loss for the emergency department.
I think every health care provider at some point has used the “mom” rule
to rate a colleague, meaning, would you let that person take care of your
“mom,” spouse, or children. I unequivocally would have wanted Renee to
care for my family; God forbid the need ever arose. This is the highest
professional compliment I could ever give to a fellow health care provider.
Just this past weekend (two weeks after Renee’s death), I was working in
the emergency department when I went to a patient’s bedside. The patient
unfortunately had multiple medical problems and subsequently has been in
the emergency department frequently. As I was talking to the patient she
asked me if Renee was working that day. I immediately had to bite my lip
to maintain my composure and asked her why she asked for Renee. She told
me, ‘Oh Renee is always so nice to me. I’ve been sick for some time, but
last time I came to the ER, I was very scared. Renee sat with me and held
my hand...and whenever I needed an IV she only has to stick me once and
gets it every time.’ I told the patient that I was very sorry, but Renee
died in a car accident two weeks prior. She burst into tears and began
praying for Renee. This is the type of effect that Renee had on her patients.
Renee was a great friend to me...if you ever needed her, she was there.
I cared for her greatly and will miss her always.”
—Robert Rodrigues, R.N.
1W Trauma Unit
I was privileged to work with Renee for the past two years. She
was a very dedicated employee, always positive with an endless smile. Renee
was on several emergency department committees, and an active member of
the local chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association. She recently
became a targeted aggression control trainer for us. Renee lived life to
the fullest. Renee’s treasure in life was her daughter. She could
not say enough about her. God has made each of us very unique. He
made Renee in His image, and put something in her that none of us else
has. I think I will miss her beautiful smile the most. We will all miss
her terribly.
—Ellen Ruja
1W, Emergency Department Nurse Manger
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