Losing my mother was the hardest thing I have ever had to endure. Losing her during a pandemic was a nightmare. Visitation policies, fear, the unknown made everything even harder. Having her at the Hospice House was such a blessing because I knew she received phenomenal care. Although I could not be with her due to the visitor restrictions and it was unknown if she had COVID, the nurse offered a "campout" for our family outside of her window. She brought out chairs and drinks and snacks to allow our family to be as comfortable as possible along with opening the window so that we could talk to my mom.
After she was cleared of COVID, the nurse allowed my sister and me to be at her bedside in the room. We had wonderful and needed conversations with my mom. We were able to touch her, hug her, hold her, and be with her when she took her final breath later that day with our entire family celebrating her life outside of the window. Your nurse was there with us the whole time talking us through each moment and step as she transitioned away.
Several days prior, we could come to the window to see the nurse singing to our mom and talking to her as if she were having a full-blown conversation. She was treating our mother like a healthy, coherent individual. When in reality she was unresponsive. This was so comforting knowing that our mom was in such great hands while we couldn't be there and knowing she was still seen and treated as a human being. Please thank Nurse Whitney for us. She was phenomenal and truly made my mother's death a beautiful story. Thank you!