Dear Mary,
This thank you note is long overdue, but our thoughts and gratitude are not!
Our mom was admitted to the Emergency Room at Kootenai with intense abdominal pain. After having a
few scans that night, she was given a room on the Oncology floor where you were acting as head nurse.
Instead of prescribing more treatment for Mom's advanced cancer, her doctors prioritized getting her
pain under control and helping her (and us) to prepare for her death.

Mom ended up staying at Kootenai for almost a week, with the road to pain management being
more difficult and lengthy than expected. During that time we were all so grateful for your
amazing concern and care for Mom and for us. You did whatever possible to make sure all of
Mom's needs were met, including her physical comfort and her peace of mind. You also
extended that kindness and care to our family members who came to the hospital. While that may
be something you do for all your patients, we are sure you do not normally have patients with 13
grown children and extended family members who want to be close at hand. We know our
numbers must have been somewhat of an invasion for you, but you handled it with grace and
kindness. We are so grateful for your thoughtfulness in moving Mom to your special "angel"
room which had more space for us to gather, and for finding a picture of an angel to adorn the
wall during our stay. Your personal touch and genuine care were so evident. Even in the midst of
incredible pain, Mom felt so well cared for at Kootenai that she was reluctant to leave.

We were able to bring Mom home from the hospital with Hospice to assist. She
passed away with her entire family gathered around her bed in prayer. We thank
you from the bottom of our hearts for your part in helping Mom and the rest of us achieve the
kind of peace she deserved to have during the final days of her life on earth. May God bless you.

Gratefully,
The Family of L