My grandfather was admitted to the hospital in the emergency room. Sadly we were told that his medical condition was fatal and that there was nothing that could be done. While he lay in the hospital bed our family was fortunate to have some good nurses, but TJ Rogers really stood out. His main goal was always not only to make my grandpa comfortable but also the well-being of my entire family. Many times he would ask if there was anything we needed, if my grandmother, who was a diabetic, had taken her medicine and also reminding her to remember her health in all this.
As our family knew there was nothing that could be done, we sat and waited. We were then informed that my grandpa would have to be discharged and sent home with Hospice. While I sat there TJ came in. We started talking and he truly was a lifesaver. His experience in a Hospice situation made him the perfect person for me to talk to. He walked me through almost everything I would need to know and what to expect when Hospice would talk to us.
We waited patiently for the ambulance to come to take grandpa home. While everyone else left to go get everything ready for my grandpa at home, TJ stayed with me and talked like we had been friends for years. When the ambulance finally came he walked with me all the way to the end of the hall so I would not be by myself.
While at Starr Regional with my grandpa we got to meet a lot of good nurses and staff members, but TJ went above and beyond. Losing a family member is never easy, but TJ's compassion honestly made it feel like he was a part of our family too. Starr Regional should be honored to have such a compassionate, caring nurse working at their facility. The hospital is called "Starr Regional" but it's nurses like TJ who truly make your hospital Shine Bright during people's darkest hours.