My Father was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Colon Cancer in May of this year. He was told that if he would complete a round of Chemo therapy he would gain more time and maybe even years. Reluctantly, my Dad agreed to do the chemo to give us more time. He began treatment immediately and had chemotherapy for three days in a row every two weeks. After each Chemo treatment, he was at BTMC due to side effects and or complications from the chemo. In October, he was admitted once again diagnosed with pneumonia. Unfortunately, his illness progressed and he was moved to ICU.
Amy was our nurse for several shifts once we moved over to ICU. I also work at BTMC as a Nurse in WIS. Amy was great at explaining procedures, labs, treatment plans to all of us. She did not take for granted that because I was a nurse I knew everything being done. I feel like she allowed me to be the "Daughter" and not the "Nurse".
My mother stayed each night with my Dad. When we were told that my Dad's prognosis was not good and that we should meet with the palliative care team we were of course devastated. He had been intubated and it was determined that if he was extubated he would not be able to breathe on his own. Your mind is trying to take all this information in and your thinking about so many things all at once. My Mother turned to us and through her tears said "I will never get to lay in bed and just hold him again."
I asked Amy if she thought we could possibly get a bariatric bed for my Dad so my Mom could lay with him. She took the time to ask the physician who agreed and then we went on the hunt for the bed! Luckily, we found one up on the 6th floor. She had the bed brought down, we cleaned it and made it and she stayed late to help move my Dad over into the new larger bed. My mother was beside herself when she returned from a quick trip home to find this new larger bed. We assisted her into bed and she held my Dad and just loved on him. I watched my Dad's vitals quickly change and for the first time that day all his vitals were normal.
Unfortunately, my Dad did not recover from his illness. We honored his wishes, and with our family all gathered the physician extubated my Dad. My mother laid in bed holding him and we all held his hands. He passed away quickly, and peacefully. Working in the area I work in I have seen infants born and take their first breath, that day I saw my Dad take his last breath and it was beautiful. He was surrounded by his children and his wife who loved him more than words can explain.
Amy was not working this day but had called to check on us, she was so supportive. She also sent my Mother a beautiful card and bracelet after my Dad passed away. What a touching thing to do. My mother wears the bracelet every day.
There are so many things I could say about Amy, her heart for her patients, her compassion for the families, and how she went out of her way to give my Mom that special time with my Dad. She is the perfect example of what the DAISY Award is about.