Our family recently had the unfortunate experience of losing a loved one. She was a sister, a daughter, a wife a mother and an inspirational teacher! She lived her final days on the oncology unit on the Sioux Falls Campus. I just wanted you to know what an extraordinary nursing staff you have there. They cared for D and our family beautifully. They treated her with dignity and consistently explained to her and to us what to expect. They kept her comfortable and were always open to input from her loved ones. They massaged her and sometimes us, as we sat at her bedside for 48 hours straight. They brought us snacks and coffee and made sure that we were all well cared for, as D was. They encouraged us to share our memories and to laugh, as well as cry. When she passed, they made us impressions of her thumbprints and let us stay with her as long as we needed to.

I am a nurse as well and I have always said how special Oncology/Hospice nurses are. They have certainly reinforced this and exceeded it. I do not work in this type of nursing, but they have inspired me to ensure that I bring their compassion, empathy and understanding into my practice with my patients, families and my employees.

They have made the inconceivable event of losing a loved one more bearable. The highest compliment I can give them is that they were as wonderful as caregivers as my sister was a teacher. D had very high standards and I am sure she would agree that they exceeded them.

The whole staff, the Chaplains that came to visit, and the Palliative Care Team are exceptional role models of what caregivers should be!

The Team consists of these extraordinary caregivers:

Deb Springer, RN
Tammy Krogh, RN
Yvonne Nies, RN
Jo Wehde, RN
Cheryl Haack ,RN, Case Manager

+ Michelle Mehlhaff, PCT
+ Bili Dizdarevic, PCT
+ Liz Toomajian, CNP
+ Connie Bryne Olson - Mental Health Counselor
and Dr. Terri Peterson Henry