I'm writing on behalf of my sister D and myself regarding the care our father received at Medical City Las Colinas. From the time Dad and I arrived at the ER to the time Dad was discharged to Vitas Hospice Care, we were treated with dignity, respect, compassion, and kindness. With Alzheimer's, communication had become a challenge for him, but this didn't stop the medical staff at Medical City Las Colinas from meeting his needs and providing an excellent level of care. His communication difficulties were clear, but each and every staff member addressed him directly and when he could not respond clearly, they would speak to one of us. When Dad did respond, each staff member listened closely and spoke directly back to him.  
He underwent surgery for a small bowel obstruction. Under the direction of Dr. C and the surgical team led by Dr. A, Dad was closely monitored daily for signs of improvement. Communication was regular, clear, and hopeful. We wish we could name each person who was involved in Dad's care, but if you look at his records, you can see the name of each staff member who was involved in his care. A copy of his obituary is attached, so that the staff may know that we acknowledged and appreciated their commitment to caring for our family.

With great pleasure, my sister and I would like to honor the team of Penny (Marshall) and Amore (Phillips). From the moment they walked into Dad's room, we saw an unparalleled standard of excellence in every interaction with us and our father. They saw him as a person, not a patient, and after getting to know him a bit they took care of his medical needs. They got to know him and us, responded to our many calls when we were concerned about him, and as we could see his health declining their actions went beyond their nursing skills into an even higher level of extraordinary human kindness. They not only took care of Dad's needs, but they also took care of ours as well.

Penny and Amore were essential members of Dad's care team at Medical City Las Colinas. D and I affectionately dubbed them "The Wonder Twins" and said they needed to wear pink capes and kicky boots (with their scrubs of course)! When I learned that Dad's health would not improve, Penny stayed in the room to watch over Dad so he would not be alone and Amore took the time to nurture me and explain hospice care. While they both maintained their professional integrity as nurses, they both responded to our family's need for kindness and grace in a difficult situation.

During Dad's stay at Medical City Las Colinas, Penny and Amore left their phone numbers for us and responded each time we sent a text. When we pressed the call button, they were at the door very quickly. They talked directly to Dad, asking him questions about his life, how he was doing that day, and teased him so much he smiled. Throughout Dad's life, he liked to tease others, and he appreciated their sweetness. He used to say to me regularly, "You only tease people you like." Though he couldn't clearly communicate his pleasure with words, it was very clearly expressed in his face and his smile when they interacted with him.

I recently came across a quote about nurses - "Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help." This desire was easily evident in Penny and Amore. Please pass this letter along to the staff members involved in Dad's care. We are truly grateful for each of them.