Rachel
Wixson
August 2012
Rachel
Wixson
,
RN
Neuto Trauma
Salem Health
Salem
,
OR
United States
On April 27th, my mother in law was admitted to the Neuro floor of Salem Hospital, due to lack of space in the Oncology Unit.
On April 28th, my husband and I went to visit my mother in law during the morning hours. She was in positive spirits with the intention of being discharged the next day. We left for another obligation and returned a couple of hours later only to find that she had a severe case of pneumonia. With her stage 4 lung cancer the doctor said the future looked grim and to bring in family and friends to say goodbye.
That night, we met an angel of a nurse, Rachel. She was gentle and comforting to our mom. She did everything in her power to keep her at ease during the end of life anxiety she was experiencing.
Late in the evening, Rachel sat with my husband and me. It was obvious that my mother in law was struggling to breathe and with our limited medical background, Rachel advised that we were hearing the “death rattle”. Calmly and with a certain comfort to us, Rachel discussed the options we had relative to the health/end of life for our mom. One option, which we chose, was comfort care.
Although this was the most difficult time in our lives, the care that Rachel gave not only to our mom but also to us as a couple was insurmountable. She was able to inform a grieving couple with the most soothing and kind compassion I’ve ever had the privilege to know. She was able to communicate with “normal” people language that we, a Salem Police Officer and school district Bilingual Administrative Assistant, could completely understand and confidently make the most difficult decision of our life to date.
That night, we stayed up watching mom. Our angel, Rachel, visited very frequently to see how she could help our family. Although we needed nothing, her simple presence calmed us and was reassuring that it would be ok.
Mom left us two days later on April 30th. We will forever be grateful for the angel, Rachel for her help and guidance. The night of April 28th, Rachel wasn’t only a nurse; she also happened to be a chaplain, a confidant, a counselor and most of all a friend.
On April 28th, my husband and I went to visit my mother in law during the morning hours. She was in positive spirits with the intention of being discharged the next day. We left for another obligation and returned a couple of hours later only to find that she had a severe case of pneumonia. With her stage 4 lung cancer the doctor said the future looked grim and to bring in family and friends to say goodbye.
That night, we met an angel of a nurse, Rachel. She was gentle and comforting to our mom. She did everything in her power to keep her at ease during the end of life anxiety she was experiencing.
Late in the evening, Rachel sat with my husband and me. It was obvious that my mother in law was struggling to breathe and with our limited medical background, Rachel advised that we were hearing the “death rattle”. Calmly and with a certain comfort to us, Rachel discussed the options we had relative to the health/end of life for our mom. One option, which we chose, was comfort care.
Although this was the most difficult time in our lives, the care that Rachel gave not only to our mom but also to us as a couple was insurmountable. She was able to inform a grieving couple with the most soothing and kind compassion I’ve ever had the privilege to know. She was able to communicate with “normal” people language that we, a Salem Police Officer and school district Bilingual Administrative Assistant, could completely understand and confidently make the most difficult decision of our life to date.
That night, we stayed up watching mom. Our angel, Rachel, visited very frequently to see how she could help our family. Although we needed nothing, her simple presence calmed us and was reassuring that it would be ok.
Mom left us two days later on April 30th. We will forever be grateful for the angel, Rachel for her help and guidance. The night of April 28th, Rachel wasn’t only a nurse; she also happened to be a chaplain, a confidant, a counselor and most of all a friend.