Heather Glassco
March 2021
Heather
Glassco
,
RN
Neuroscience ICU
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
,
IL
United States
Words will never be able to suffice to explain how grateful I and my family are for Heather.
I couldn’t have asked for a better nurse the last two days of my dad’s life. Due to COVID I was of course at the hospital alone continuing to get more bad news about my dad’s condition. Not only was Heather a fantastic nurse in her skills and care for my dad, but she knew exactly how to "care" for me as well. For my dad, she continued to turn him and oral care just as she would any patient who was more likely to make it through the day.
For me, she put up with my thousands of questions and lab after lab that I wanted her to look up for me. She told me everything she was doing. Every time I had a question or concern she immediately went to the doctors for me. On the second morning she was caring for my dad we learned there really wasn't a chance he would make it through the day. I don’t know what I would have done without her as I stayed while everyone else took turns coming to say goodbye. During a 3-hour gap waiting for some more family to come she continually asked if I needed anything. She would bring me a blanket or soda. She knew just when to tell me to bring my chair over next to my dad even though I might be in her way. She knew when to tell me to turn on the TV to my dad’s favorite TV channel. She knew when to sit and talk and ask me about my dad as well as tell me about her dad and stories from her life. And she knew when to give me space and let me grieve. She offered to take some pictures of our family with him as one last memory right before it was time to say goodbye. When it was time to extubate and turn off his medications, she had the morphine in her hand ready to give if he needed it so that he wouldn’t have a moment of discomfort. Thankfully we didn’t need it as dad passed so peacefully. Words will never be able to suffice to explain how grateful I and my family are for Heather. You made a terrible, terrible experience not quite so terrible, and made it as peaceful as possible for us and we are eternally grateful.
Note: This is Heather's 2nd DAISY Award!
For me, she put up with my thousands of questions and lab after lab that I wanted her to look up for me. She told me everything she was doing. Every time I had a question or concern she immediately went to the doctors for me. On the second morning she was caring for my dad we learned there really wasn't a chance he would make it through the day. I don’t know what I would have done without her as I stayed while everyone else took turns coming to say goodbye. During a 3-hour gap waiting for some more family to come she continually asked if I needed anything. She would bring me a blanket or soda. She knew just when to tell me to bring my chair over next to my dad even though I might be in her way. She knew when to tell me to turn on the TV to my dad’s favorite TV channel. She knew when to sit and talk and ask me about my dad as well as tell me about her dad and stories from her life. And she knew when to give me space and let me grieve. She offered to take some pictures of our family with him as one last memory right before it was time to say goodbye. When it was time to extubate and turn off his medications, she had the morphine in her hand ready to give if he needed it so that he wouldn’t have a moment of discomfort. Thankfully we didn’t need it as dad passed so peacefully. Words will never be able to suffice to explain how grateful I and my family are for Heather. You made a terrible, terrible experience not quite so terrible, and made it as peaceful as possible for us and we are eternally grateful.
Note: This is Heather's 2nd DAISY Award!