Cathy A Mingeaud
June 2024
Cathy A
Mingeaud
,
RN
Oncology
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Spokane
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

Cathy was always calm and kind and told us what she was doing and why.
Cathy was amazing to us when we sat in our room watching our mother die. When we arrived that morning – our mother could no longer be awakened, and her breathing was very gurgled. Throughout the day we had 6-8 (or more) people always in the room. She checked on mom often, gave her comfort medications, arranged for suction for her, including RT and a smaller flexible tube to make things more comfortable. When we voiced concern about what would happen next, she carefully explained the next stages of dying to us. Our mom still had oxygen and she kindly asked if we wanted to take the canula off or not. She was breathing through her mouth, and we knew she was dying, and it wasn't doing any good, but there was something about taking it off that we just could not do. She respected that and left it on. After mom died - it was a very tender moment when her son took that off. Cathy was always calm and kind and told us what she was doing and why. She moved her only a little when needed, straighten her sheets so there were no wrinkles under her - and talked to her about what she was doing. She was concerned about our comfort as well. It was a great experience, and we are forever grateful!