Donna Terry
December 2013
Donna
Terry
,
RN, BSN, CMSRN
Med/Surg
Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital
Newport News
,
VA
United States

 

 

 

My father has been in room 309 for several weeks with necrotizing pancreatitis. I have never heard of that before but an Angel who has been taking care of my dad explained to me and my dad what it was.

My dad is an alcoholic yet holds down a good job at the shipyard and has for over 30 years. Nurse Donna has brought hope to my family and my dad because she has taken the time to become a part of our family. She told my dad how she loves him and believes in him. She told him that she sees past his addiction and knows he is a good and kind man. She told him that she believes in him and knows with help he can overcome his addiction. She also told him that if he ever drinks alcohol again it may kill him.

All your nurses and staff have been great but no one is like Nurse Donna Terry. She holds his hand and prays for him, for all of us. My dad and I haven't talked much for years due to his drinking. I came to see him when I heard he was in the hospital and we are starting to form a relationship that we have never been able to have and I know it is in large part due to Nurse Donna praying for us and telling us that it is never too late and to never give up on each other. She has told us that love is so powerful. She loves my dad and me too. I can tell by everything that she does and says. I can see it in her eyes.

My dad told me how he soiled himself and he is a proud 58 year old black man. He was in the bathroom trying to clean himself up and Nurse Donna came to the rescue. He is very sick and weak and she cleaned him up and told him she "felt it was a privilege to clean him up." Have you ever heard anyone say that before? I haven't. People talk about racism, Nurse Donna sees no color or social status, she can see right through a person's eyes to their heart. And anyone who is lucky enough to have her care for them can see her big heart.

All the nurses seem to love and respect her and so does my dad and my family. Nurse Donna takes such good care of him. She had made me believe that my dad can stop drinking and she has made him believe it too. She believes in all of us. For someone as smart as she is to tell us she loves us and believes in us means so much. She is the best nurse my dad or I have ever known. I will always remember her and the love and care she has given to my dad and my family. Her family is so lucky to have her and so is this hospital.

I will never forget her kindness to us. She tells the truth when no one else will. She calls it like it is and says it with love in her eyes. Whenever my dad or I thank her she says not to thank her, but instead she thanks us for allowing her to care for my dad. She must have wings under her uniform. I have never had anyone make me feel so loved or cared for, and my dad hasn't either. She held my hand and shed a tear with me as I told her of our rocky relationship.

I want to take her home with us. She could be a motivational speaker but she is too great of a nurse to stop. Thank you for having her at your hospital. She is exactly what my dad and my family needed. My dad and I will be forever grateful for her love and care. Every day she comes into his room and tells him it is going to be a great day and she is going to keep him comfortable. She is always so positive and smiling. We feel blessed to have known her and to have her be my dad's nurse, not by accident I am sure. God knew we all needed her.