I don't even know where to start with sharing about all the ways Shirlee cares for our veterans and their families. Shirlee is the RN for our Home Based Primary Care Clinic.
Shirlee ALWAYS puts the veteran first. She thinks of them and worries about them all the time. She has dropped everything she was doing and left her house and gone out to assess a veteran whose wife called with concerns about his breathing. Once she heard that this same veteran's son died suddenly, she did a home visit to provide bereavement for this veteran and his wife.
I was out on a visit with our dietitian once on one of our co-pay veterans, Shirlee showed up at his house with a birthday present for their granddaughter (whom they care for every day). To see the smile on the veteran and his wife's face and especially their granddaughter's face was heartwarming to us all. She attends all of our late veteran's funerals, even on a Saturday or Sunday. She will attend our female veteran's piano concerts at her assisted living facility and sit with her. She heard that one of our veterans loves Omaha steaks and she anonymously ordered him some to be delivered to his house. When we needed prizes for our annual fishing derby, she showed up with a trunk full of prizes from Wal-Mart. So many prizes that every veteran and caregiver received at least 4 apiece. They had a blast choosing their prize. I can still picture their smiles and them standing there trying to choose their favorite item. If one of our demented veterans is in respite, she will check on them. If they are hospitalized, she will go and check on them. She will take calls from caregivers after hours and over the weekend to calm their fears. She has spent time after hours with family members making sure they are filling med-planners correctly.
She is the epitome of service before self. I cannot say enough good things about her. I truly adore her and look up to the care she provides. I used to be all of our veterans' favorite, but now they tell me Shirlee has me beat.