(An elderly patient and her sister suffered burns when their house caught on fire in 2011 and both were admitted to our Burn Center. The patient's dog died in the fire.)

During their stay at the Burn Center, they really enjoyed Sarah's in your-face, straight to the point, no nonsense German approach. Sarah encouraged the patient during her ventilator weaning and cheered her on when she took her first step after prolonged bedrest. She threatened the patient with an NG tube when the patient didn't feel like eating. She made the patient sit up in the chair with each meal (not an easy task considering all the tubes and dressings that the patient had on) and whistled while she did her work. She gave the patient no slack. After about 3 months in the Burn Center, the patient finally went home with home health.

Those of us who know Sarah Scoins, know she is quite a whistler. The patient remarked she would hear her whistling before she entered her room. The patient and her family really loved Sarah. After the patient was discharged, she got a new dog and named her after Sarah!

The patient's granddaughter called recently to say that the patient passed away from heart failure while in hospice. Before she passed away, the patient asked her granddaughter to be sure to give one of her favorite CDs, of music made with whistling, to Sarah. She asked her to be sure to let the nurse know how much the patient missed her and appreciated her during her stay at the Burn Center. The granddaughter said their entire family loved Sarah and what she did for them, she really connected with the patient. The patient's granddaughter brought the CD to Sarah and pictures were taken of them. In these pictures, Sarah is holding two framed photographs which were on the patient's night stand. One was of the patient's dog and the other was of the patient and Sarah.