Betsy Kakkanad
March 2019
Betsy
Kakkanad
,
RN
Geriatrics and Extended Care
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
North Chicago
,
IL
United States
I am a service-connected Vietnam Veteran. I served in the United States Army, Entry date: 01/01/1969 and Departure date: 07/06/1971. I have been an active patient on the 2nd Floor Hero's Heaven and I enjoy living here because I have experienced excellent care and genuine compassion from the healthcare workers. The staff members on this floor take their time to care for me each and every day. They arrive with the state of mind that we are not just patients on this ward, but they make us feel like we are part of their family by the way we are treated. They have sheer concern for our well-being. They arrive to work with smiling faces and caring hearts.
I was in my room one night and I began to cough extremely bad and I could not catch my breath. One of our nurses entered into the room and asked me if I was okay and she said that she was concerned about my extended health and she wanted to share with me some video information that would prolong my life if I would make some changes in my life. She shared with me several videos. The 1st was talking about the cause and effect of smoking cigarettes, it talked about coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and bloody mucus. Then the 2nd video gave information about the treatment of Lung Cancer, the surgical procedures, and chemotherapy and radiation procedures. I thought about our conversation and what I had seen and the cause and effect of long-term smoking. And how much I enjoyed smoking and how much I enjoyed life. As I pondered everything in my mind, I was grateful that she had taken the time out of her busy schedule. I thought if she could take time to share with me how much she cared for me then I should make some important decisions about me. I abruptly quit smoking the next day because I realized I was slowly killing myself. I chose life because of Ms. Betsy Kakkanad, she's my SHERO because she and other workers on the ward live out of the vision and mission of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Facility in being successful at just caring and taking time out. Thank you for allowing me to share with you why she is a DAISY Nurse and thank you for allowing me to smell all the daisies at the Hero's Heaven on 134-2BN.
I was in my room one night and I began to cough extremely bad and I could not catch my breath. One of our nurses entered into the room and asked me if I was okay and she said that she was concerned about my extended health and she wanted to share with me some video information that would prolong my life if I would make some changes in my life. She shared with me several videos. The 1st was talking about the cause and effect of smoking cigarettes, it talked about coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and bloody mucus. Then the 2nd video gave information about the treatment of Lung Cancer, the surgical procedures, and chemotherapy and radiation procedures. I thought about our conversation and what I had seen and the cause and effect of long-term smoking. And how much I enjoyed smoking and how much I enjoyed life. As I pondered everything in my mind, I was grateful that she had taken the time out of her busy schedule. I thought if she could take time to share with me how much she cared for me then I should make some important decisions about me. I abruptly quit smoking the next day because I realized I was slowly killing myself. I chose life because of Ms. Betsy Kakkanad, she's my SHERO because she and other workers on the ward live out of the vision and mission of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Facility in being successful at just caring and taking time out. Thank you for allowing me to share with you why she is a DAISY Nurse and thank you for allowing me to smell all the daisies at the Hero's Heaven on 134-2BN.