I had to place my mother into a dementia unit. She was scheduled for cataract surgery two days later. I asked the staff at the dementia unit what they thought was best for my mother to acclimate her to the unit. I asked if I should be there in Same Day Surgery to support my mother. They recommended that I not be there, and the dementia unit staff would transport my mother. This was very difficult for me on the day of the surgery.
Kathy called me before surgery started to ask if I knew my mother was there for same day surgery as I had power of attorney. I explained my scenario to her in an emotional, teary outburst. She comforted me by first saying that she had been through this before with her mother and that she would be careful to give my mother extra attention. She also kept me abreast of how the surgery went. I asked her to touch my mother a special way for me. She said she already had and would continue to be there for her. This was a great comfort to my mother who was 87 and suffering from dementia and for me as I was facing much guilt unnecessarily.
Kathy called me after surgery to report how my mother had done. She also made sure Mom's driver was called. I was blessed as was my mother.
***
Kathy makes a difference in the lives of the patients and families she cares for. She made sure my son was comfortable and painless. She listened to him and made sure he had a Mountain Dew from the fridge. She treated him like an adult but took care of him like a mom. Love it.