In the spring of 2024, the 5 West leadership team was asked to take a medically stable husband-and-wife couple (R and C) that had both been in the hospital for almost 1 year each with extremely complicated discharge difficulties. They had been on 6/7 Lied living in the same room together while occupying two private inpatient beds. Knowing that bed availability is always at a premium, both units worked to move the patients into one semi-private room on 5 West together. This was beneficial to not only the patients, but to our organizational bed availability. When the patients moved to their new “home” on 5 West, the staff on 6/7 Lied ensured our team was set up for success; instilling confidence in both patients in the new unit staff’s abilities as well as making sure our team knew all their likes and dislikes. In the weeks that followed the transfer, 6/7 Lied remained an incredible resource for our staff. Fast forward a few months, both had become a part of the 5 West Wolfpack family. Though hospitalized far longer than any one person should be, our team did the best to make the most of their time with us.

Unfortunately, things took a drastic turn for C one night, and he was found unresponsive by the bedside nurse. C had coded and passed away in the early morning hours next to his wife. Understandably distraught and grieving, our team jumped into action to support R in any way we could. Unit staff and leaders spent hours (and days) next to R's side. Consoling her and encouraging her to tell us about all the wonderful memories of her dearest husband. With little family or resources, we met with risk, legal, and ethics to ensure R's wishes for her husband would be followed.

The morning of C's passing, 5 West leaders reached out to the Medical ICU team to see how to obtain resources for a “Thumbie” necklace. The ICU team was incredibly helpful at walking us through the process and gathering the necessary materials. At this point, C had already been taken off the unit, and two of our nurses, Hannah and Colette, graciously volunteered to go obtain fingerprints from him. Working with spiritual care and morgue staff, fingerprints were collected and sent to the necklace company so we could give R this precious gift.

About 4 weeks later and over a year in the hospital, "R" finally received placement to a LTC facility. The day after she was discharged, her Thumbie necklace arrived on 5 West. We delivered the necklace to the facility for R and per the care team, she was “so grateful.” It takes a village and the collaboration and teamwork between many departments truly made the difference in this couple’s last few months together.