karyn hembree, RN, BSN, CCRN

My wife recently passed in the CVICU. Karyn Hembree was her nurse for the last two nights of her time in the unit. She allowed me to stay with my wife as long as I wanted to, and she prayed for her with me. Earlier in the day, we had made the difficult decision to make her a DNR. Shortly after Karyn came on shift that evening it became obvious that she didn't have more than a few minutes left to live. Karyn made sure that all the family could be in the room, and that we were as comfortable as possible. When the time that my wife was passing approached, Karyn asked if we would like for her to sing for my wife. She sang two of my wife's favorite hymns for her as she passed. While saying goodbye has been terribly difficult, Karyn made this difficult time more bearable. Karyn truly is an angel of mercy and she not only does Cox Health proud, but she also does her profession proud. I am so glad that she was my wife's nurse those final two nights. She is a wonderful example of what a caring, compassionate nurse should be.