Taking care of an older Veteran at the end of their life can be difficult, but almost always there is a comfort in knowing that this person lived a long and happy life. Caring for younger Veterans at the end of their life can be more difficult, the situation hitting a little too close to home and bringing all sorts of feelings to the surface that we as nurses normally try to keep in to best care for our patients.
I would like to highlight an extraordinary individual who cared for a young Veteran and his beautiful wife and daughter through the end of that Veteran’s life in our Inpatient Hospice Unit.
Sarah Leombruno cared for this man and his family with such delicateness, yet was not distant. She was warm and comforting, providing consolation in the time of this family’s greatest sorrow. They had such good sense to know when to “tap out” and pull away from the bedside to grieve this loss privately in the nurses station.
She went above and beyond to ensure that--while this experience was heartbreaking--the Veteran’s young wife, daughter, and other family members could be with him and that the team did everything to keep him comfortable.
The end of life care that was provided was beautiful, exceptionally compassionate, and what one would hope to have for any of their own family.