Angela M Thomas, RN

My mother was taken to the ER at Ashland Samaritan Hospital. She was dehydrated and near the end of her terminal battle with cancer. She was an active RN herself for over 40 years, and it was her legacy. She also trained many nurses in her years of service.  Angela Thomas was assigned to my mother. Strong pain meds had always made my mother a bit of a pistol. It was time for these meds under the current situation. She had an IV inserted with a port, and my mother was not understanding this type of IV. Angela was so patient with my mother, even though in her current state she thought she was training Angela on IV insertion. Angela would listen to my mother's instructions and quietly show my mom what she had done and how it worked. My mother was having no part of this and kept repeating the same script over and over. I cannot tell you how hard this was, as I knew Angela had other patients to attend to. I think one patient had Down syndrome a few doors down, and I could hear she needed help too. Angela handled the entire situation very professionally and compassionately. Angela would leave temporarily and come back to attend to my mother, who was in a confused state. Finally, my mother understood and said Angela, thank you; you did a good job. I appreciate that Angela took her time, and this was actually the last time I heard my mother in any type of conversation. I never heard her speak again after that evening. Thank you to nurses like Angela. You gave my mother dignity in her last conversation. Please give this Award to Angela. Her bedside manner, her unwavering understanding and patience were everything that my mother taught throughout her years in nursing. Thank you, Angela, with my whole heart.