I have been a nurse at Stormont for over 15 years and unfortunately was on the other end last month being a visitor rather than a caretaker/employee. Thursday was a life-changing day for my family. My 91-year-old independent grandmother had a hypoglycemia/syncopal episode and broke her hip. She was transferred to Stormont Vail Health from Seneca, KS.
Brett LaMar admitted her that day, and even though my family was unsure of having a male nurse, I told them we had great male nurses here at Stormont, and to give him a chance. It didn't take my family long to adore Brett and appreciate the care he gave my grandmother. That evening, my 91-year-old grandfather (her husband) also had a decline at the nursing home he lived in and was transferred to Seneca Hospital. We chose to wait until after my grandmother's surgery to tell her about him.
My grandmother had surgery on Friday morning for her hip fracture. She did well, some low postop blood pressures, but all-in-all was recovering. Brett was very attentive, as was Dr. A, and gave my grandmother the best care possible. Brett is very calm and soft-spoken, which is a quality in him that is so valuable when families are nervous or anxious. That evening my grandfather declined even more, so we decided to tell my grandmother about my grandfather's decline.
Saturday morning, Brett was back again as my grandmother's nurse for the 3rd day straight. It was a sigh of relief to see him walk in to care for my grandmother every day. That morning, we decided to transition my grandfather to comfort care per my grandmother's decision. She said, "We have to let him go sometime." Just a few hours later, my grandmother had a massive stroke and became completely aphasic with L hemiplegia and L facial droop. It was devastating, to say the least, as I knew from a nurse's point of view this was really bad. My grandmother wouldn't want to live this way. Brett showed such compassion and love during this time my family had to make decisions.
Brett was back the 4th day for us on Monday. He helped us find my grandmother's Living Will from 1991 to help us make our decisions. He helped us expedite the process of getting my grandmother transitioned to comfort care and back to Seneca Hospital to be put in the same room beside my grandfather so they could hold hands and be together in their last days.
Both Brett and Dr. A were integral in our process of caring for my grandmother's needs physically, but also to the emotional needs of my family. I will forever be grateful for their compassion and dedication to help us during that time. My grandfather and grandmother passed away 3 hours apart from each other after 71 years of marriage, both 91 years old. It was the ending to a true love story.
I hope Brett Lamar knows how much we appreciated him for those 4 days straight. We couldn't have asked for a better nurse. Everything that he could do to help us, he did, and then some. Dr. A did the same. Although it sucks being on this side of care at the hospital, it was so awesome to experience what I hope I have made patients feel like in the past. Thank you, Brett LaMar and Dr. A.