I want to share an experience that occurred on our unit. We all had the pleasure of caring for a young man with cancer that steadily declined over several weeks. We also got very close to his fiancé and family. Page DeGregorio not only provided outstanding care to a patient at the end of his life but recognized and met the needs of his family while they held vigil at the bedside in his last hours. This patient was not in Page’s assignment, she did this while managing her own patients. The nurse caring directly for the patient was grateful to have Page's help.

On the day that he passed away, Page created a beautiful heartfelt gift to give the patient’s fiancé. She printed a small strip of his heart rhythm, rolled it up and placed it in a small bottle, and put the quote “forever in our hearts” on the outside of the bottle. She decorated it with a ribbon around the bottle. Page presented the gift to the fiancé after he passed away. The fiancé was so touched that she broke into tears and hugged Page and thanked her profusely.

The fiancé also struggled with leaving her loved one after the final goodbye. Page recognized her struggle and knowing the fiancé was a student nurse and caregiver, asked if she would like to participate in the postmortem care for her loved one. The fiancé did want to help and together they provided care to the patient. It seemed that this was what helped bring the fiancé closure and she could finally say her last goodbye after finishing his care.

Page went above and beyond in helping care for a patient in another nurse’s assignment. She not only gave the gift of the patient’s heartbeat to the fiancé, but she also cared for her by allowing her to assist in his final care. This allowed her to provide him care until the very end. What a beautiful gift! Page, thank you for the care you show all our patients and your team!