Juan Cruz
June 2021
Juan
Cruz
,
LVN
Hospice
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Torrance
,
CA
United States
My mother did not have an easy death, but if it hadn't been for Juan, her last hours would have been pure torture.
I am writing to express my deep and sincere appreciation to one of your Hospice nurses, Juan. Juan arrived at my mother's apartment. My mother was in the final stages of hospice care. She had stage four lung cancer and the cancer had spread throughout her body. My mother was heavily sedated at that point and previously had an incident a few hours earlier, where she woke up out of the sedation and was in deep distress, calling out for help and trying to get out of the bed. Shortly after Juan arrived, she had another incident, this one was much worse. Juan calmly took control of the situation and quickly ascertained that her lungs desperately needed to be drained. Fortunately, the supplies were at hand and there was also a nurse there from her facility. Together, Juan and the other nurse immediately began the process of draining my mother's lungs so that she could breathe again.
After they were complete and had rearranged my mother back in her bed, I leaned next to her and asked if she felt better now. Even though she couldn't speak, a smile crossed her face, letting me know how much better she felt. That smile made me so happy, and yet broke my heart at the same time. It was also the last communication I had with my mother. She passed away at 3:30 that morning.
After the process, Juan came and sat with me for a time. I thanked him sincerely and let him know how grateful I was that he had shown up when he did - and more importantly-for taking the initiative to alleviate the worst of my mother's suffering. My mother did not have an easy death, but if it hadn't been for Juan, her last hours would have been pure torture.
I am writing because I would like you to know the critical role that Juan played in helping my mother in her last hours, and by extension, the critical help he gave me as well. It is difficult to describe the sense of helplessness I felt when my mother was in such deep distress and the relief I felt after Juan had helped her. Hospice is an amazing organization, and people like Juan are the reason why. You are a blessing to those in need.
After they were complete and had rearranged my mother back in her bed, I leaned next to her and asked if she felt better now. Even though she couldn't speak, a smile crossed her face, letting me know how much better she felt. That smile made me so happy, and yet broke my heart at the same time. It was also the last communication I had with my mother. She passed away at 3:30 that morning.
After the process, Juan came and sat with me for a time. I thanked him sincerely and let him know how grateful I was that he had shown up when he did - and more importantly-for taking the initiative to alleviate the worst of my mother's suffering. My mother did not have an easy death, but if it hadn't been for Juan, her last hours would have been pure torture.
I am writing because I would like you to know the critical role that Juan played in helping my mother in her last hours, and by extension, the critical help he gave me as well. It is difficult to describe the sense of helplessness I felt when my mother was in such deep distress and the relief I felt after Juan had helped her. Hospice is an amazing organization, and people like Juan are the reason why. You are a blessing to those in need.