March 2024
Candy
Hamacher
,
RN
Ambulatory Care Unit
Central Vermont Medical Center
Berlin
,
VT
United States
The list of ways that Candy went above and beyond for me, my husband, and my daughters to improve our physical, emotional, and spiritual health is quite lengthy.
My 12-year-old daughter, with a life-long progressive complex and significant medical needs, passed away a little over a year ago. We lived at the hospital with her for about 1/4 of her all-too-short life, AND she required constant 24/7 medical care and equipment at home. Being in the hospital for my own procedures makes me miss her so very deeply that it triggers a very deep wave of grief. Candy took care of me in pre-op before my recent shoulder surgery. She demonstrated a level of care and compassion which deserves recognition. She went above and beyond to understand and empathize with my situation. She learned what was needed to help me AND my husband and daughter navigate our grief in this triggering situation and ensured that everyone who cared for me that day knew how to minimize triggering our grief. She distracted and entertained us when we needed it. She comforted us when we needed it. She understood that noises from the vitals monitor and having an IV placed would be triggering, and she went out of her way to have them less so. Without being asked, she proposed and organized many comforts, such as attaching a photo of my daughter to my folder so she could follow me and everyone caring for me would 'know' my daughter. She worked with the staff to find a way to allow me to safely cover and wear my daughter's bracelet the entire day instead of removing it for surgery and to have both my husband and daughter in PACU following surgery instead of having them switch in and out. The list of ways that Candy went above and beyond for me, my husband, and my daughters to improve our physical, emotional, and spiritual health is quite lengthy. We hope that this short list of examples helps you see that Candy must be recognized. We will never forget the difference she made for me, as a patient, and for my family.