Theresa has made a big difference in my life. I am a 26-year-old girl who grew up with a father who was into drugs and a mother who loved herself and her wine much more than me. When I arrived here at Kootenai Medical Center I had relapsed on meth; I was a recovered drug addict, IV style too, I was sober for 2 1/2 years. I am a single mom and my son is my world however I had myself working almost 6 days a week only because I always wanted to give my boy the best life I could but being a recovered drug addict I put my needs aside and I started over working myself and skipping meals and hardly seeing my boy and my anxiety and stress just overwhelmed me and there I was all the sudden on a path of self-destruction. With all that I had taken on, as a girl my age all I really wanted was my mom, but how do you miss a mom you never had? So when I got here the doctors told me I had a blood infection and endocarditis, a bacterial growth on my heart valve. These words terrified me and I never felt so low in my life, they said had I waited any longer to come in I would have died.
I was flooded with emotion I felt scared, pissed off, stupid, weak, most of all I missed my son. I got to my room on the 3rd floor and I was unable to peel myself off the bed at first I just laid down in this dark room and I never felt more alone. Then this happy voice walks in my room, ''Hi I'm Theresa I'm going to be your nurse today!' Typically I keep my walls up and they aren't easy to break through but Theresa didn't just thoroughly do her job she made sure I was taken care of in every aspect with giving my med on time making sure I knew how this computer system worked so that I could order a meal because at that time it was evening and I hadn't eaten all day long. She made me feel safe. She told me that its ok to make mistakes and that it doesn't make me a failure, it will only make me stronger, so I can go home to my boy and be the mother that he deserves. She built me back up from the nothing that I convinced myself I had become. She will always be someone whom I considered saved my life and I can't recall her walking into my room one time without wearing a smile as if she were happy to see me and take care of me that day. Theresa Foster deserves recognition for being extraordinary! Thank you.
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The following is my summary of the extraordinary clinical and compassionate care given to our family by Theresa Foster as we journeyed to be fully present to our loved one through the final days of his life. Theresa provided remarkable care to G as he struggled to come to terms with what was happening to him. During this time, I learned that she asks to work with the sickest patients preferring the night shift because it provides more opportunities for one-to-one attention. Her kind, positive presence was a constant. I was amazed at her team-building skills with staff as well as problem-solving abilities enabling her to persist until workable procedures were able to be implemented. Theresa "listened with her heart"; her demeanor one of compassion as she worked with G using a gentle touch and soft voice while explaining what was happening. I was grateful for her ever-present smile that encouraged us all. Her professional skills were amazing as were her personal ones when she truly listened to family members, answered questions, and communicated with doctors and staff to keep everyone on the same page. She guided our family through many difficult moments, yet kept G's needs her top priority. I felt unbelievably supported in my attempts to love my husband at such a critical time. The night he died, knowing that I was severely sleep deprived, she had a lounge chair, pillow and blanket put next to the bed for my use. This kindness gave me great comfort. Later that evening, G died soon after I left the room to walk a bit. When I returned, Theresa said, "his choosing to pass at this time was his last gift to you..." She then helped us all with "next steps" while honoring our need for privacy. Theresa was a godsend to our family, epitomizing what it means to be a dedicated health professional. What an outstanding asset she is to Kootenai Health! Our family will always be grateful for her unconditional giving of herself to us in our time of need. Therefore, we wholeheartedly nominate her for the DAISY Award. May she be richly blessed in her soul work of caregiving as she blesses others.
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We have a patient on 3 North who has been transferred from 2 East over one month ago due to caregiver burnout. Theresa has worked tirelessly to create a working care plan for this patient and the patient has verbalized how much she loves Theresa and even keeps track of the days she is working, knowing that Theresa will be her nurse. Most staff asked to be rotated with taking care of this patient, but Theresa has made it known that she doesn't mind caring for her whenever she is scheduled. Last night, Theresa noticed that she needed some hygiene care as the patient stated that she wished she could shave her legs. Theresa gave the patient a bed bath and shaved her legs for her without complaining. Theresa says "all I do is try every day to be the nurse God wants me to be, to be compassionate and try to understand others".