Kim has gone out of her way to make our cancer journey a little less awful. We have spent many months at University of Michigan Hospital over the past three and a half years, and have encountered many staff during our time here. We have been so impressed with the level of nursing care, and the respect and concern for each patient on the unit. Kim Taylor has been with us on days that were very tough and was there for emotional support and encouragement, along with the excellence of nursing practice that has aided my husband's recovery to health.
She has been steady and calm in stressful situations, and offers smiles and laughs when the days are lighter. She is efficient and proactive in her nursing care and a strong advocate for her patients.
In May we celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary while my husband was inpatient at C.S. Mott, 7W Hematology Oncology Unit. Kim orchestrated the decoration of our door and had a sign the staff could sign with well wishes and congratulations. She had the family lounge set up as a private restaurant with a white table cloth, cloth napkins tied with ribbon, red silk flower center piece, and sparkling cider. Dinner was ordered in. She made sure all the medical treatments were finished so my husband and I could enjoy a "date night" with few interruptions. It has been a couple of years since we have spent time together like that, just talking and reminiscing. Cancer, for that moment, was not the center of our world and we could just be married. This was an immensely appreciated gift that we never expected.
Kim doesn't know the impact she has had on us beyond nursing care. She has encouraged hope when there was little, and joy amidst the suffering of cancer. We will always remember the milestone of our 20th Anniversary as one of our favorites, even though it passed while in the hospital, and at a difficult time in our cancer journey. We could have mourned on that day. We could have spent the day shedding tears for the life we no longer have. Instead, because of the kindness of those whom cancer has brought into our lives, we cried tears of love and appreciation. Thankfulness and gratitude overflowed as we celebrated the 20 years we have shared as a couple. Kim allowed us to be us, and would not let it be another day that passes as time stolen by cancer. She is an exceptional person.