Kathy Thornton
July 2021
Kathy
Thornton
,
RN, CHPN
6 East Oncology
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville
Evansville
,
IN
United States

 

 

 

Kathy even stayed over when her shift was over to give mom a complete bed bath and wash her hair with good smelling shampoo cause that’s what mom kept saying she wanted.
Saying Kathy is an amazing nurse doesn’t even begin to describe her and how grateful I am/was to have her there with me this weekend. I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through these past 3 nights without her. Everything all happened so fast. Mom had COPD and congestive heart failure and when admitted to the hospital it was for struggling to breathe and they said she had pneumonia with fluid on her lungs and a little fluid behind her heart. After 8 days of being in ICU being intubated with a feeding tube, IVs, PICC line, lots of oxygen, and meds. There was no improvement on her daily x-rays so they decided to do a CT scan. It showed she had small cell lung cancer. Hearing that was difficult enough. Then finding out that meant it was rapidly developing and there was nothing we could do but comfort care because she wouldn’t be able to survive surgery or chemo. So she was moved to the 6th floor. Where after removing all tubes and IVs she started acting like she was getting better. Said she wanted to get better to go home. So it seemed like maybe we would have a long time with her, at least 6 months to a year. I was hoping anyway. But then she started getting worse and the next 3 days were so hard, not only for us emotionally but her too. There were so many questions and fear for not only us but mom too. And then I met this amazing woman who helped me with everything including comforting me and mom and talking to us, explaining things. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without Kathy. She went above and beyond for us every night. And was there for me in every way I needed this morning when we lost mom. She even stayed over when her shift was over to give mom a complete bed bath and wash her hair with good smelling shampoo cause that’s what mom kept saying she wanted. Thank you so much, Kathy. Words cannot express how grateful I am for having you as Mom’s nurse. And everything you have done for us. You’re an amazing woman and nurse. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.