Mrs. K is 57 with terminal brain cancer and is recently deaf as result. She was admitted to 65 Med Surg with MRSA pneumonia and less than a month life expectancy. Mr. K is 94, functionally deaf and lives in a nursing home. He had a stroke and was admitted to Neuro ICU. Michelle Perkins, Nursing Coordinator, and Mary Ray, BSN, RN, RN-BC went to Neuro ICU to determine his condition before notifying his wife. He was awake, alert, and had received TPA with good prognosis. So, they put a mask on her and took her to see him. Michelle and Mary said they were like two high school kids in love! Mrs. K's mask came off and there was lots of kissing, hugging, and communicating through writing notes professing their love for each other.

Mr. K told his wife he wanted her to come to live at the nursing home with him when they got out of the hospital so he could take care of her. She said she didn't think she would make it out and would wait for him in heaven. He said she would not have to wait long because he does not want to be on this earth without her and would be right behind her.

Michelle and Mary arranged for both patients to be in the same room by that evening and moved the furniture so the beds were pushed together. Mr. and Mrs. K spent the evening and next eleven days cuddling on 65MS while we worked to prepare each for transition to sub-acute care.

Mrs. K's daughter is in the service, stationed in Alabama and made a couple of visits while here. Otherwise, we were their family. Staff came to know their preferences and personalities and worked compassionately to meet their needs and provide emotional support. We worked with a long-term nursing facility to arrange for both to be discharged there and placed in the same room. They even left the hospital at the same time, together!