Our dad was in the unit for just shy of four months and was cared for by almost everyone. They went above and beyond for him and our family throughout his entire stay—making the most difficult days of our lives more bearable. They addressed any and all of our questions/concerns and made sure to always keep us informed. Our dad is a father of 5, and the nurses and NPs would update us as soon as each of us walked in—even if it needed to be repeated as we’d visit at different times. They continuously encouraged our dad, kept him and us motivated, and always made sure to check in and remind us kids to take care of ourselves as well. They did all they could to make our dad’s experience better and do whatever they could to help us through such a stressful time. The team gave him spa days, decorated his room for holidays, and provided sensory toys to keep him calm.

One of the most memorable days was the surprise trip outside. It took a team; several nurses, the NP, a doctor, and a respiratory therapist brought him out so he could get fresh air and a change of scenery for the first time in months. We brought our dog so they could reunite, and it was such a beautiful moment!

His discharge date was also memorable. Staff that wasn’t even working that day came in to send him off, those that couldn’t make it FaceTimed in, and the unit and halls were lined with dozens of nurses, doctors, therapists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. They clapped him out and sent him on his way—a moment that brought many people to tears (but in a good way). It was always clear how loved he was and that everyone was fighting his fight with him. We are so grateful and feel so lucky for the care we got from everyone that had a hand in our dad’s recovery