As a leader and physician recruiter with SSM Health, I believe in our mission and our quality of care. I share it every day with our physicians and providers and those we are trying to recruit. I never doubted what we give to patients or families but I don't think I ever truly appreciated it as I do now. On Saturday, my father-in-law was taken to the DP ED around 10 a.m. for symptoms of diverticulitis. He was admitted and they ran several tests only to find no evidence of a flare-up. Because he had not been able to keep food or water down since Wednesday, they admitted him and tested him for COVID. On Sunday morning we learned his test results were positive and he remained in the hospital for the week. He remained stable until Thursday when we were told he had developed double pneumonia and would need oxygen and the doctor was concerned. Now, not only were we façing concerns that my father-in-law might not recover and come home, but also that my husband has been exposed and possibly put our 11-year daughter with CP at risk. Naturally, our anxiety was high, and not being able to visit the hospital or talk to him or the doctor face to face made it even harder. As the days progressed, my father-in-law did not get better and by the following Saturday, the doctor recommended hospice, only giving him a few hours to live. As you can imagine, we were in shock by how quickly he had declined and incredibly upset about having to say goodbye over the computer.

JT was the Charge Nurse that day on the 4th floor and she walked us through what to expect, asked for recommendations on my father-in-law's favorite foods, and even introduced herself to our daughter and chatted with her briefly while she walked to my father-in-law's room, iPad in hand. When JT called us back, about an hour later, she had gone to the cafeteria and gotten a cheeseburger, M&Ms, a Pepsi, and a hot fudge brownie sundae for him. All of his favorites. She helped him clean up and sit up in bed. She then held the iPad as he ate his sundae, talked with us, and told C he loved her. He asked us what he had gotten for Christmas, as we had not had the opportunity to exchange gifts with him yet, so JT watched, as we opened his gifts and showed him what we had gotten him.

Saying goodbye to him was one of the hardest things I have ever had to witness as my husband spoke his last words to his father and my daughter told her grandpa she loved him and she would see him in Heaven where she would be able to walk and they both would be well. The experience is not one I would wish upon anyone and not something I will soon forget. In the midst of all of it, I truly saw the Mission, I share with prospective physicians every day, at work. I cannot imagine what it is like for JT to have to hold an iPad while family members say goodbye. It has to be one of the hardest jobs ever imagined, but she did it with grace and compassion. If there was ever an example of our mission, it was what I witnessed that day. My family and I will forever be grateful to JT and DePaul for making my father-in-law's last moments on earth worthwhile and peaceful.

Note: This is Jennifer's 2nd DAISY Award!