My father had suffered a horrendous fall.  He arrived late in the evening at St. Mary's ED, suffering from several facial lacerations and, the most severe injury, a spinal fracture in his C2 / C3 area, resulting in paralysis.  My father was 86.9 years old.  His 87th birthday would have been in less than a month.  I arrived at St. Mary's mid-day on his second day.  My mother had just arrived, and I was the first of 4 of Dad's children to arrive.  Kelsey was with the attending physicians as they explained the grave state my father was in. Very quickly, I met a warm and positive spirit in Kelsey Pierce.  There was an almost instantaneous bond with her to the point that she seemed like family.  Little did I know that Kelsey would spend close to 20 hours with my family as we prepared for the passing of my father.  Kelsey brought out a spirit in me that, even though I knew my dad was not likely to live to the end of the week, allowed me to joke and smile my way and my family’s way through the process.  As my three siblings arrived, Kelsey was there to greet them and guide them.  I could sense that she instantly made a bond with each of my family members and meticulously memorized our names and roles in the family.  Late that evening, I returned to the unit after a brief walk and food break to see Kelsey still tending to my family, long past her shift ended. Kelsey came to say goodbye and wish us well and that she might see us in the morning as she wasn't supposed to work the next day.  I assumed she was being polite as I was fairly certain she knew the condition my father was in. It was almost as if she knew us all from that first meeting with Dad.

Around 7am on the next morning, Kelsey knocked on the door to my dad's room and said good morning.  Jokingly I expressed surprised that she was there, and the twinkle in her eye let me know there was no way she wasn't going to be present for what transpired over the next 6 hours.  As my father slowly slipped away, Kelsey was no more than 15 feet away to tend to my dad.  As my father moved from life preserving to comfort giving care, Kelsey was no more than 5 feet away, just outside the door.  She gave us privacy to be with our father, and she took notes as we discussed his favorite things with him.  Notes that she gave to me after his passing.   I am pretty sure I felt my father pass, and Kelsey was immediately right there by his side and with us.  She answered all the "What's next" questions with compassion and professionalism.  

When the Office of Death folks came in, every member of my family expressed gratitude towards Kelsey and asked how we could make sure she was recognized.  We were pointed in the direction of the DAISY Award. After I had said my last goodbyes to father, I turned to leave the unit with my family and there was Kelsey with a tear in her eye.  I told her it was okay and that she could let her cape show; she was truly a superhero. She smiled and gave me a hug as I exited the unit.  I can't imagine, aside from my dad walking out with me, a better/more positive exit from Unit 7D.  Thankfully, I will always think back and crack a smile when I think of my exit.

For the first several hours, as my mother and I navigated the situation my father was in, Kelsey was there.  Kelsey was able to allow me to joke and smile and reflect on my father and his life without losing the gravity of his situation. When my father was uncomfortable and irritable, she tended to him with love and professionalism, in complete understanding of the confusion, discomfort, pain, and loss my dad felt as he took/worked his last journey on the planet Earth. I cannot praise Kelsey enough and think how amazing it was to have such wonderful company/guide during such a heartbreaking journey.  Without knowing what to ask for, if I had to ask for something/someone on a journey like we took over those last 30 hours of Dad's life, I would ask for Kelsey over and over again.  I truly believe that she felt/experienced the same emotions we did, and I can't imagine doing that day in and day out.  And she did it in such a positive, loving manner. I am pretty confident that I will never forget Kelsey Pierce, and when I do, I hope my family has someone like her to aid them in my last hours.