bear haring, BSN, RN, CCRN

My father was recently admitted to Trinity Mother Frances. He has been debilitated by Parkinson's disease. This horrible progressive disease has taken both the abilities of his body and mind. My father is a proud man that did not take easily to this progressive, life altering, and debilitating disease. He had always been very independent not wanting to depend on anyone. In his lifetime he has been a professional basketball player and recently retired from the Dallas Fire Department.

He took a fall at home fracturing his left zygomatic arch, and orbit floor needing maxillofacial surgery. His fall was due to orthostatic hypotension secondary to his Parkinson's disease. He was admitted for surgery as well as needing adjustment of his medications in an attempt to increase his blood pressures. My father had surgery to repair his facial fractures.

Bear was my father's nurse for the first night he was in the hospital and the weekend following his surgery. My father was very confused during the postoperative period. He sometimes didn't know who he was, where he was or what he was doing. Bear spent a lot of time with him, talking to him, reorienting him, giving him simple tasks that he was able to complete, and loving him. Bear had been a Dallas fireman and he used their careers, as common ground to build a rapport with him even in his confused state. He spent time with him in the room, even though he had other critically ill patients and several other tasks that needed his attention. He did not say "I don't have the time." He said, "I have the time," and demonstrated that by his actions. Bear, in my opinion demonstrates the loving care worthy of the DAISY Award. He demonstrated that he truly cared, not merely by his words but also by his actions.

M.P. co-worker and family member