Dad had always been a strong and stubborn man, this summer he was working on the roof! When he came down from that roof, he was tired; about 2 weeks later, he went to the PCP because he was having trouble breathing. This man, who was the picture of health and strength, was suddenly exhausted and struggling to breathe which alarmed all of us because he had rarely been sick a day in his life. The PCP suspected bronchitis, gave him an antibiotic and X-rayed his chest. The x-ray showed fluid around Dad's heart, so he also prescribed water and potassium pills. As that week progressed, Dad's breathing didn't get any better and his ankles began to swell. My siblings and I kept suggesting to Dad that he go back to the PCP or to the hospital because we were so concerned about him. He stubbornly refused - that is until one evening.
I was home alone with Dad, pretending to watch TV with him when I was really watching him struggle to breathe. As I sat beside him I started texting friends who are RNs, to ask how long it takes for water pills to bring down swelling. Diane was one of those friends whom I texted. God love the RNs because they all texted back essentially the same response: take him to the ER. Diane soon texted 7 magic words, "Do you need me to come out [to the house to check on him]?" We took her up on the offer, she arrived in about 30 minutes.
Within moments of arriving, Diane looked at Dad's ankles, took his blood pressure and listened to his heart and lungs. She was so kind and gentle with him, it was very heartwarming. She told him that she thought he should go to the hospital, that he had to decide if he wanted to go, and if he did want to go, she would drive him there. Dad asked her what she would do if it was her dad; her response, "If it was my dad I'd take him to the hospital." At that, Dad not only agreed to go to the hospital but took Diane up on her offer to drive him. My mother rode with Dad and Diane, my sister and I followed separately and stayed with them until long after he'd been admitted. Diane stayed with me for at least an hour after walking Dad into the ER. That's right, she didn't just drop him off in front, she walked him in!
Dad was admitted around 3 AM and discharged into hospice just a week later. He passed away at his home the next morning.
I am so grateful to Diane for the Good Samaritan that she is! She was so kind and gentle with Dad, she drove him to the hospital at 9 PM on a Saturday night, stayed with me in the waiting room for an hour, visited him in the hospital a few days after he was admitted, and most importantly, gave us more time with Dad. I am convinced, without a doubt, that Dad would have passed away very soon had he not gone to Centegra Huntley when he did. And it was all thanks to Diane Oranger. We are all very sad. But within that sadness there was a ray of light: we had those extra days to shower him with love and attention, to pray with and for him, to be present at a time of bad news. We are forever grateful to Diane and she deserves to be recognized for the kind and gentle RN that she is.