Teresa Reed
May 2025
Teresa
Reed
,
RN
Med/Surg
Lucas County Health Center
Chariton
,
IA
United States
eresa was kind, considerate, remarkable, outstanding, amazing, and very, very patient.
My sister is a terminal cancer patient and is currently a patient in EveryStep Kavanaugh House in Des Moines. A testimony to the extraordinary care this nurse provided – M was transferred by ambulance to her daughter’s house on Wednesday. Her daughter, a registered nurse herself, was confident she could care for her mother. However, she quickly found that caring for her mother was too challenging and that she needed much more care than she could provide. She called hospice the first night as her mom was combative, confused, bit, kicked, and pushed her continuously throughout the few hours she was there.
At LCHC, Teresa was compassionate and patient with my sister. She never raised her voice once, despite the fact that she was a handful – and then some. The last two days of her stay were even more challenging as she had become “dead weight.” To me, she felt as though she suddenly weighed 500 pounds. She could no longer walk; her legs were useless. She was continually trying to exit her bed and pushing the nurse call light button. It had to be frustrating, but Teresa never faltered and called my sister “sweetheart.” She continually asked if there was anything she could get for her.
At the time, my sister was no longer eating much of anything, and Teresa worked so hard to find something from the menu that would taste good and possibly appeal to her. She kept an eye on the water cup and filled it with fresh water and ice many times during her shift. Towards the end of the stay, Teresa saw that the menu was soft foods that could easily be swallowed, as my sister was now choking easily. She didn’t have to do any of this – it was just in her nature. It takes a special person to become a nurse – and even more to become an extraordinary one. Teresa was kind, considerate, remarkable, outstanding, amazing, and very, very patient. She never said a harsh word to my sister and treated her with gentle, loving hands. I cannot give her enough credit, nor can I find enough adjectives to express my appreciation for the care she gave. Teresa should be the “poster child” representing all extraordinary nurses.
At LCHC, Teresa was compassionate and patient with my sister. She never raised her voice once, despite the fact that she was a handful – and then some. The last two days of her stay were even more challenging as she had become “dead weight.” To me, she felt as though she suddenly weighed 500 pounds. She could no longer walk; her legs were useless. She was continually trying to exit her bed and pushing the nurse call light button. It had to be frustrating, but Teresa never faltered and called my sister “sweetheart.” She continually asked if there was anything she could get for her.
At the time, my sister was no longer eating much of anything, and Teresa worked so hard to find something from the menu that would taste good and possibly appeal to her. She kept an eye on the water cup and filled it with fresh water and ice many times during her shift. Towards the end of the stay, Teresa saw that the menu was soft foods that could easily be swallowed, as my sister was now choking easily. She didn’t have to do any of this – it was just in her nature. It takes a special person to become a nurse – and even more to become an extraordinary one. Teresa was kind, considerate, remarkable, outstanding, amazing, and very, very patient. She never said a harsh word to my sister and treated her with gentle, loving hands. I cannot give her enough credit, nor can I find enough adjectives to express my appreciation for the care she gave. Teresa should be the “poster child” representing all extraordinary nurses.