Sam has always been a strong patient advocate. She recently went above and beyond for one of her patients, Ms. W.

Ms. W was a 27 year old admitted with advanced heart failure. She required continuous IV inotropic medications and it was quickly determined she would need to remain on these after discharge. This patient was developmentally delayed and lived in a group home. She had been in foster care for most of her life and had very little contact with her family. Once the medical team determined that Ms. W would stay on the inotropes indefinitely the group home could not allow her to return to their facility. Sam and the social worker, Peggy Willis, did not accept this decision and immediately began determining what resources were available.

Ms. W wanted very much to return to her home and was very disheartened that this would not be possible. Sam and Peggy involved the services of a Patient Advocate attorney to work with the patient, the hospital and the facility to ensure the patient's wants and rights were met. They spent a great deal of time with Ms. W and developed a strong bond over the course of the 2 months that she was a patient on 3 West. They eventually were able to facilitate the discharge back to the patient's home with the appropriate services in place. Unfortunately, Ms. W's heart failure continued to advance and despite treatment she passed away before being able to return home.

During the two months while on 3 West, Ms. W truly became part of the family for many of the staff here. Sam's advocacy made it possible for Ms. W to have the peaceful end that we would all want for our loved ones. Once her prognosis had changed and it was clear that she would not leave the hospital, Sam worked with the medical team as well as palliative care to ensure that Ms. W's wishes were met. Sam initiated a primary care type of nursing for Ms. W to ensure continuity of care and assure important pieces of Ms. W's care plan and history were understood by each of her caregivers. She helped to maintain open communication with everyone involved in Ms. W's care to assist in a smooth transition to palliative care. She dedicated her time both while at work and away to Ms. W.

Around Easter, Sam coordinated with other staff and got Ms. W Easter baskets, decorated her room and door for Easter. Ms. W was actually one of a set of triplets that were separated early in their life. This was yet another bond she shared with Sam since Sam is the proud mother of triplets! Sam brought her triplets into visit Ms. W to spend time with her. Sam also worked closely with Peggy, the Social worker, to locate some members of Ms. W's family, including one of her triplet sisters, who then came to spend time with her in her hospital room during her final week at MUSC. Additionally, Sam organized a collection to provide a flower arrangement for Ms. W's funeral service from the staff of 3 West. She personally worked with the flower store to design a floral arrangement representative of the childhood character that provided much comfort to Ms. W during her last weeks, Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Sam exemplified caring, advocacy and love to provide Ms. W with a positive and caring end of life experience. Sam was at Ms. W's bedside providing comfort on the evening that she passed away.