As a hospice social worker, I thought I had a good handle on end-of-life care planning. That is until my 1-year-old daughter was placed on hospice. Our care team at CHOP recommended Lehigh Valley Hospice, and that is when Louise walked into our lives. She did exactly what you would want a nurse who was caring for my baby to do. She listened. She trusted my instincts as a mother. She looked to me as the expert in my daughter’s care and never once made me question myself. She treated my daughter like she was her only patient and her most important priority. She even showed attention to our toddler and dog, who always welcomed visits from “Miss Louise”. When I sensed a change in my daughter’s condition, I called Louise in the middle of the night. She heard the fear in my voice and arrived at our home quickly. She sat with us. She educated us. But most importantly, she reassured my husband and me that we were doing everything right. When our sweet girl passed, she was gentle and kind. She was exactly what we needed. After her passing, Louise visited our family, assisted in removing medical supplies/medication from our home for us, and even attended my daughter’s funeral.

Fast forward two months, and I felt ready to go back to work, but I no longer felt comfortable working as a hospice social worker. As I thought about where I pictured myself working, I thought about Louise. I thought about her passion for work and the professionalism she demonstrated when caring for my daughter. Her impact encouraged me to look into positions within Lehigh Valley Health Network. Fast forward again, and now I am a case manager at Cedar Crest, coincidently, working alongside Louise. I will forever be thankful for having Louise in my life, not only for the love she gave my daughter but also for helping me find my way here.