My aunt worked at DMH for 44 years. She was an extraordinary, beautiful, kind, servant to the very end. On Wednesday, she collapsed at her home, was found by her grandson and he completed CPR, notified EMS and she was taken to DMH for the last time. Her grandson is in the military, and he did CPR correctly and gave us time to be with my aunt before she passed. Unfortunately, the most difficult part of this day was faced by him alone. She had suffered a hypoxic brain injury. After her arrival, it was determined that she was not demonstrating brain activity. The family was called in. The doctors explained everything to us and later that night, we honored her wishes for not keeping her on life support. She was extubated and our family was supported by the ER physicians. They thought it would be a rapid transition to death, but it was not. My aunt was not ready to leave us yet.

After a few hours of waiting, we were transferred to the 4th floor for compassionate, end-of-life care. I was with my aunt the entire time except during her transfer to the 4th floor medical unit. The doctors explained that they wanted us to have a quiet place to be with her. Her care on the 4th floor started with two staff members, bathing her and positioning her with care per our requests, so she was not gasping, as she was continuing to breathe on her own. At shift change, I met her nurse, Ester. I told her that my aunt was one of their own and had worked at DMH for 44 years. She had worked in scheduling surgeries. Ester said it was an honor to take care of her. The rest of the day, we continued to work with Ester to take care of her.

Ester always came into the room, each hour, she sat down a moment, watched my aunt, shared information with me, and made sure she was comfortable. I explained to her that my aunt had lived with terrible pain for a very long time. She now also had broken ribs, fractured vertebrae, and a facial injury from her fall. I explained that her baseline pain was very high. She shared that with the doctor. We, as a family, were most interested in keeping her out of pain, comfortable, and with us long enough for her only living child, her son, to make it home from Oklahoma. He was caught in terrible storms and delayed trying desperately to arrive in time.

With Ester's help, and with hospice suggestions, my aunt went from a rigid, gasping, distressed state in ER to calm, peaceful, and beautiful. At the end of her life, she looked like she was sleeping. At one point in the afternoon, she felt very warm and sweaty. We removed some of her blankets. Ester and another staff member working with her gave my aunt a second bath and they repositioned her so carefully, that she was completely peaceful. Her granddaughter cried with happiness when she saw the difference from when she was first in ER to this peaceful state. When my cousin was almost home, 20 minutes away from DMH, I let Ester know and told her that I saw beginning signs of breakthrough pain, and movement, and more than anything, I wanted her calm when her son arrived. Ester immediately acted to make her comfortable. Her son arrived and he had three precious hours with his mother, eyes closed, totally peaceful beside him.

My aunt was declared without brain activity, her body was broken, but her soul took over and she simply waited for her son to be with her. She was a force of nature who chose to remain here until he came home. I knew she would hold on. Ester helped make this possible. All assigned to my aunt's care were outstanding, but Ester was exceptional and extra special in every way.

My aunt always wrote thank you letters, so please receive this today, from me, on her behalf. Please share with Ester how thankful we are. Have no doubt that our hearts are broken, but being able to care for her, to be able to do her mouth care, rub her feet and legs, hold her hand, and have all family on speaker phone to give her their love, eased our pain. We read bible verses to her and talked to her. We gave her quiet times too, but always with someone at her side. Our family and our friends were treated with respect and compassion. She was treated as a human being who was still here, even though there were no signs of brain activity.

Extras happened which made it even more special. Ester brought me coffee. Water bottles and snacks were brought to the room. Chaplain had a prayer service for her and our family on Wednesday afternoon. Now, I was not there as she took her last breath, as I wanted my cousin and his wife to have their quiet time with her. Soon after I arrived back home, he called and told me that her passing was completely peaceful. Very early in the morning, the sun was rising and the moon was visible through the window. I took a picture of her in her bed, covers on, beautiful and the only sound was her breathing in and breathing out. The moon fading and rising sun were the transition between night to day, as my aunt moved from life to death, to life again in spirit and that moment for me, alone with her, was one of perfect peace.

I have worked in rehab for 35 years. As a rehab therapist myself, I have seen all aspects of medical care over the past 35 years, good, bad, acceptable, and I know exceptional when I see it in action. That is what happened to us. I know other families have been treated as well as we were treated, but many times, people forget to express their thanks. They are overwhelmed or grieving, and I also know how hard and thankless this work can be. I cannot give a stronger recommendation for a nurse to receive the DAISY Award, than the recommendation I give you now for Ester. You have an exceptional employee, a nurse, and an angel on the 4th floor.