lorelie pacio, BSN, RN

My dad was admitted to the Step Down Unit for hepatic encephalopathy. We brought him in for increased confusion and disorientation. My dad was not himself. As a nurse and a former nurse of SVBGH I was desperate for answers and to get my dad well. I chose to drive 20 minutes further than the closest hospital to get him the care that he needed. As my dad got sicker he reverted to his native language, Tagalog. Lorelie immediately began communicating to him in Tagalog and often referred to him as "Tatay" (pronounced Ta-Tie) which means father. This is how she addressed him through the time she cared for him. This is a form of respect in our culture, but this also allowed him to be comfortable in an unfamiliar setting. She tended to him as this was her family member.