June 2023
Richard
Carmona
,
RN
ICU
St Luke's Carbon Campus
Lehighton
,
PA
United States
During her stay, Richard would take the time to ask our mother what she liked to do, and he always made it a point to talk about those things.
Our 92-year-old mother was a patient in St Luke’s Carbon Campus for a week. She was admitted to ICU for the first 6 days of her stay. Richard Carmena was her ICU nurse. She instantly fell in love with his accent and wonderful personality.
Our mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure many years ago and was admitted to hospitals with breathing problems for the last several years. This time there were other complications that led to kidney failure and unfortunately to her passing.
During her stay, Richard would take the time to ask our mother what she liked to do, and he always made it a point to talk about those things. She quickly told him she liked the Waltz (dance). He shared he liked the “Cha-cha”. Every time he would come into her room, he would incorporate the dance into a conversation.
Richard made our mother feel comfortable by fluffing her pillows, explaining what meds he was administering and how they would make her feel, asking her about her family, hobbies, and what else he could do to take care of her. He would always touch her hand or give her a hug before leaving our room. Our mother opened up to him about things in her life and shared stories about our family. He quickly became part of our family. He always asked our family how he could make us more comfortable.
I live in Massachusetts, and our mother would continuously tell me how wonderful Richard treated her. By the time I arrived in Pennsylvania to see our mother, I felt like I knew Richard before I met him. Obviously, after meeting Richard, I agreed with everything my mother told me.
When it became evident she was going to pass, she had already been moved to a different room out of ICU. During his breaks, Richard would visit our mother, hold her hand, and talk with her. Although she couldn’t verbally communicate, she always turned her head and perked up when she heard his voice. He gave our family many hugs. During his final visit with our mother (after his shift), he hugged her and started to cry. Although she was incoherent, we know she heard him. He struggled to leave her that night knowing that was their last visit.
Our family has come in contact with many nurses throughout the last years of our mother’s illness; however, we have never come in contact with anyone as compassionate and genuine as Richard. Every word he spoke came from his heart. He treated our mother as we would have. Going above and beyond his nursing profession is mildly put. There are no other words to describe Richard other than phenomenal and incredible. He was born to be a nurse. His kindness, empathy, and compassion, along with his true desire to help people have elevated him to a level we had not previously experienced in healthcare. Thank you, Richard, for taking care of our most prized possession…our mother.
Our mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure many years ago and was admitted to hospitals with breathing problems for the last several years. This time there were other complications that led to kidney failure and unfortunately to her passing.
During her stay, Richard would take the time to ask our mother what she liked to do, and he always made it a point to talk about those things. She quickly told him she liked the Waltz (dance). He shared he liked the “Cha-cha”. Every time he would come into her room, he would incorporate the dance into a conversation.
Richard made our mother feel comfortable by fluffing her pillows, explaining what meds he was administering and how they would make her feel, asking her about her family, hobbies, and what else he could do to take care of her. He would always touch her hand or give her a hug before leaving our room. Our mother opened up to him about things in her life and shared stories about our family. He quickly became part of our family. He always asked our family how he could make us more comfortable.
I live in Massachusetts, and our mother would continuously tell me how wonderful Richard treated her. By the time I arrived in Pennsylvania to see our mother, I felt like I knew Richard before I met him. Obviously, after meeting Richard, I agreed with everything my mother told me.
When it became evident she was going to pass, she had already been moved to a different room out of ICU. During his breaks, Richard would visit our mother, hold her hand, and talk with her. Although she couldn’t verbally communicate, she always turned her head and perked up when she heard his voice. He gave our family many hugs. During his final visit with our mother (after his shift), he hugged her and started to cry. Although she was incoherent, we know she heard him. He struggled to leave her that night knowing that was their last visit.
Our family has come in contact with many nurses throughout the last years of our mother’s illness; however, we have never come in contact with anyone as compassionate and genuine as Richard. Every word he spoke came from his heart. He treated our mother as we would have. Going above and beyond his nursing profession is mildly put. There are no other words to describe Richard other than phenomenal and incredible. He was born to be a nurse. His kindness, empathy, and compassion, along with his true desire to help people have elevated him to a level we had not previously experienced in healthcare. Thank you, Richard, for taking care of our most prized possession…our mother.