Mary Oldham
May 2025
Mary
Oldham
,
RN
7 Schiedt
Pennsylvania Hospital - Penn Medicine
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Unlike many nurses who may only fulfill their basic duties, they provided my father with much more.
I wish to draw your attention to the circumstances surrounding my father, who was admitted to Pennsylvania Hospital on two separate occasions during the same month. My father is an oncology patient who has been battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for several years. At this stage in his life, he has developed a resistance to his chemotherapy medication.
His physician admitted him to Pennsylvania Hospital to receive CAR-T therapy. My father has been experiencing significant anxiety and depression due to his treatments. He received his first treatment, and we feared for his life as he began to have difficulty breathing, with his oxygen levels dropping to 60. He also experienced severe chest pains, prompting a response team to be called to stabilize him during the night.
I share this information to highlight the exceptional care provided by two nurses, Carmela Vazquez and Mary Oldham, who were instrumental in my father's treatment during his hospital stay. Their dedication played a crucial role in my father's perseverance through his painful treatments.
Despite expressing his desire to discontinue medication, Carmela and Mary Kate ensured he felt comfortable and supported. They frequently checked on him and communicated with him in Spanish, with Mary Kate, a Caucasian nurse, making an effort to speak Spanish to enhance his comfort.
These nurses not only administered his medications and monitored his vitals but also went above and beyond their responsibilities to alleviate his stress and depression. Unlike many nurses who may only fulfill their basic duties, they provided my father with much more.
Upon his second admission, it was evident to everyone that he felt joy and relief at the prospect of being cared for by these two nurses once again. Before leaving for her vacation, Mary Kate Oldham made a special visit to his room to give him a hug, wish him well, and inform him that she would not be returning before his discharge due to her time off.
I believe it is remarkable to have such dedicated nurses on the Oncology floor.
His physician admitted him to Pennsylvania Hospital to receive CAR-T therapy. My father has been experiencing significant anxiety and depression due to his treatments. He received his first treatment, and we feared for his life as he began to have difficulty breathing, with his oxygen levels dropping to 60. He also experienced severe chest pains, prompting a response team to be called to stabilize him during the night.
I share this information to highlight the exceptional care provided by two nurses, Carmela Vazquez and Mary Oldham, who were instrumental in my father's treatment during his hospital stay. Their dedication played a crucial role in my father's perseverance through his painful treatments.
Despite expressing his desire to discontinue medication, Carmela and Mary Kate ensured he felt comfortable and supported. They frequently checked on him and communicated with him in Spanish, with Mary Kate, a Caucasian nurse, making an effort to speak Spanish to enhance his comfort.
These nurses not only administered his medications and monitored his vitals but also went above and beyond their responsibilities to alleviate his stress and depression. Unlike many nurses who may only fulfill their basic duties, they provided my father with much more.
Upon his second admission, it was evident to everyone that he felt joy and relief at the prospect of being cared for by these two nurses once again. Before leaving for her vacation, Mary Kate Oldham made a special visit to his room to give him a hug, wish him well, and inform him that she would not be returning before his discharge due to her time off.
I believe it is remarkable to have such dedicated nurses on the Oncology floor.