Craig remembered Pop from his aortic valve surgery in February, as he helped him in his recovery after open heart surgery. The repeat CT showed a new large hemorrhagic stroke in Pop's frontal lobe and the decision was made to make my grandfather comfortable, wait for family to come in town from the East Coast, and to consult palliative care. Craig showed an exceptional amount of compassion in his interaction with my grandfather and the extended family members. He told me to wait a few minutes before having my grandma come back to spend time with him. Craig took his time shaving him and getting him cleaned up. He looked more like himself after being shaved and bathed, even with all of the tubes and wires.
Craig is a shining example of what St. Luke's is all about. He went above and beyond to make sure that my grandma saw the best of my grandfather at a time when he was at his worst. Grandma continues to talk about how hard that day was, but also how special it was for her to see him looking so handsome. Craig made me proud to be a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital, and gave me great comfort that he took time out to share his extraordinary gift of exceptionally compassionate care. Our family will have that memory for many years to come.
Note: This is Craig's second DAISY Award!