May 2024
Kaitlyn K
Anderson
,
BSN
ICU
UnityPoint Health-Meriter
Madison
,
WI
USA
Kaitlyn’s compassionate care and positive attitude helped improve a difficult journey for us all.
Mom spent three weeks in the Meriter ICU before she chose to go home to Heaven. These were rollercoaster days-- filled with fear, but mixed with moments of joy, beauty, and love. One thing that was consistent was the extraordinary care she received from the ICU team, especially the nursing staff who treated her as if she were their own precious grandmother. A gentle touch, a lingering conversation, an energetic, positive attitude, and kind words of encouragement were demonstrated by many nurses, but none stood out as much as Kaitlyn Anderson. Kaitlyn exemplified compassion. Mom had been in the hospital more than one and a half weeks when Kaitlyn was her nurse. It bothered Mom that the machines and her health kept her from being able to shower. Kaitlyn bathed her in the bed, making Mom feel a little more herself. When Mom worried that she was a bother and taking up too much of Kaitlyn’s time, Kaitlyn exclaimed that mom was not a bother, but a joy and that she had all the time in the world to spend with her. As Kaitlyn said good-bye on the second day of being Mom’s nurse, Mom asked hopefully if Kaitlyn would be her nurse the next day. Kaitlyn replied, “Unfortunately not. I am in a class tomorrow across the street, but I’ll try to pop by during one of my breaks to say hi to my favorite patient.” As promised, Kaitlyn stopped by the next day, just as Mom was about to get a tense, painful procedure. Kaitlyn brightened Mom’s day. Perhaps most importantly, Kaitlyn was there for Mom and us on Mom’s final day. Kaitlyn wasn’t Mom’s nurse that day, but she was the one who removed the sensors and support with both compassion and love, softly talking to Mom about how special she is and smoothing back her hair. After Mom passed, Kaitlyn came in again, held me in a tight embrace while I sobbed, then put her hand on Mom’s shoulder to say a final goodbye to a special lady. Kaitlyn’s compassionate care and positive attitude helped improve a difficult journey for us all. We are forever grateful.