Debra Cook
April 2021
Debra
Cook
,
RN
Medical Surgical / COVID Unit
DCH Regional Medical Center
Debra's kindness was reassuring
When I was admitted with bilateral Covid pneumonia. My husband was admitted later with the same. He and I were in different rooms on the Covid floor. When I was admitted, I was scared, exhausted, and felt absolutely terrible from Covid. It may have been the sickest I've ever been. Of the many wonderful people who helped us, Debra Cook is someone I will never forget and never be able to thank enough.
My beloved husband, who in addition to Covid also had Alzheimer's, had a very difficult time being hospitalized. He became increasingly disoriented and agitated. Debra was in my room early one morning when he came in search of me. Debra was calm and kind and understood immediately how agitated my husband was. She allowed him to stay a bit in my room, which calmed him considerably. Thereafter, she coordinated with my husband's nurse to keep me in the loop on his care. Debra even obtained permission for me to go visit my husband in his room, which was one of the greatest gifts anyone could have given the two of us.
Debra was one of the first and only people who saw my husband with the full force of his Alzheimer's. Most of the time people are unable to detect his Alzheimer's. The day that he came to my room, he could not "put on the show". Debra's kindness was reassuring for him and me. She treated my husband with respect and preserved his dignity. Later that day, Debra was in my room when my husband called agitated and upset. Debra heard the conversation and called for a personal care assistant to go help him.
Debra would visit with me about my husband and life. Debra came often after her shift. I could tell she was exhausted and knew she was ready to go home, but there she was, sitting and talking with me. Debra was one of the first people who said to me, "You cannot take care of all of this yourself. You have to get well. You cannot take care of your husband if you do not take care of yourself." This advice was just what I needed so that I would stay well enough to avoid a re-hospitalization. Debra Cook is one of the angels in my life and I will be forever grateful to her for her calm, kind, and wise counsel.
***
This is Debra's 2nd DAISY Award!
My beloved husband, who in addition to Covid also had Alzheimer's, had a very difficult time being hospitalized. He became increasingly disoriented and agitated. Debra was in my room early one morning when he came in search of me. Debra was calm and kind and understood immediately how agitated my husband was. She allowed him to stay a bit in my room, which calmed him considerably. Thereafter, she coordinated with my husband's nurse to keep me in the loop on his care. Debra even obtained permission for me to go visit my husband in his room, which was one of the greatest gifts anyone could have given the two of us.
Debra was one of the first and only people who saw my husband with the full force of his Alzheimer's. Most of the time people are unable to detect his Alzheimer's. The day that he came to my room, he could not "put on the show". Debra's kindness was reassuring for him and me. She treated my husband with respect and preserved his dignity. Later that day, Debra was in my room when my husband called agitated and upset. Debra heard the conversation and called for a personal care assistant to go help him.
Debra would visit with me about my husband and life. Debra came often after her shift. I could tell she was exhausted and knew she was ready to go home, but there she was, sitting and talking with me. Debra was one of the first people who said to me, "You cannot take care of all of this yourself. You have to get well. You cannot take care of your husband if you do not take care of yourself." This advice was just what I needed so that I would stay well enough to avoid a re-hospitalization. Debra Cook is one of the angels in my life and I will be forever grateful to her for her calm, kind, and wise counsel.
***
This is Debra's 2nd DAISY Award!