I wanted to write you and also felt the need to share with you some thoughts after my mother’s recent stay at Memorial Hospital.

My mom passed away on Friday, August 30th, 2013. She had been in and out of Memorial for the last several years. Every time she was admitted, she would always rally and our family would be able to take her back home. Recently, she was admitted again around July 14th. Unfortunately, after about 3 weeks, I knew this stay was going to be different and have a different outcome. She had been in the hospital for 7 weeks (IMCU for 5 weeks) and I knew she would never leave the hospital. The doctors did all they could and my mom fought to the very end. The reason I am writing this letter is there is a very wonderful place inside your hospital with some extraordinary people working there.
I am talking about your Intermediate Care Unit, which used to be your Progressive Care Unit. My mom has been in this unit numerous times, always receiving the utmost care and bringing her back to good health, or as good as it could be. Everyone in this unit should be applauded for their professionalism and excellent care they provided. We were pleased with all the nurses in the unit. My mom got to know almost all of them and we as a family always knew when we would leave at night that she was in good hands.

This part of the letter is the main reason I am writing it. This is the section I really want you to focus on. There came a time when I knew my mom was not going to be going home. My father and I visited her for five weeks, my dad not missing one day and I only missing two. We really got to know the ladies I want to tell you about.

There were three nurses and a CNA that probably knew what the outcome was going to be also, but that never changed their amount of care that they gave. I want you to know that RNs Kelli Silvers, Ginger Crawford, Kelly Suits, & CNA Nicki Peardon understand what patient care truly is. To put in more simple terms, THEY GET IT! It did not matter what problems arose during their shift, my mom ALWAYS received 110% effort from these four wonderful women. They gave my mom the most important, powerful medicine from the very first part of their day and it continued until they left. I am talking about love and compassion. These four women gave my mom this each and every day they were there, no matter what the circumstances. They NEVER lost sight or focus on what was the most important priority, and that was the patient in that bed, my mother. They treated her like my mom was their mom! When my mom could talk, she would share with us how much she loved these four young ladies.

I share this with you because, if Memorial Hospital TRULY believes that patient care is the most important gift you can give a patient, then Kelli, Ginger, Kelly and Nicki already know it and live it. I have told each one of them to never quit what they do. They have a gift that is truly special. They can work and get a paycheck, but there is more to it than a paycheck. It is what is in their hearts as well as their skills. If you want your hospital to be the very best, then you have four special nurses that demonstrate how it is done. You as a hospital should feel very proud and privileged to know they are employed by you.

In closing, I wanted to share this with you because no matter what road our family members will travel in the future, Kelli Silvers, Ginger Crawford, Kelly Suits and Nicki Peardon will always have a special place in our hearts and we will never forget them because of the love and care they showed my mom.