Kellie DeCalogero

Kellie was caring for a male patient who had lung cancer, complicated with pneumonia. The patient was being treated in our ICU with Bipap and IV antibiotics. The night Kellie was caring for this gentleman, he was very sick.  He wrote a note to his wife saying that he loved her, and he didn't think that he would survive the night. Kellie sat with him and his wife, calling in family that he requested -- medicating as needed for comfort and just holding a hand (wife's included).  She showed empathy and compassion during this family’s time of need.  It was as if she was a part of their family.

It nearly brought me to tears, and I was moved by her caring and her involvement in their world. She made phone calls to family members in various states, allowing the couple privacy and bonding during end-of-life care. She took the extra time to make them feel as if they were the only people in this hospital, and went a step above to make this patient and his wife feel comforted in his last few hours of his life.