In a short three week period of time, I was very fortunate to get to know many people from Samaritan Hospice. They were a God-send to my dad and me. My dad was diagnosed with 4th stage pancreatic cancer in April 2007. Immediately he started a very aggressive plan to treat the cancer. As time progressed, so did the cancer. By August, he was getting weaker and by September it was time to contact hospice.
As my mom had passed away twenty years ago and not having any brothers or sisters, I was always my dad’s primary caregiver. Things in the past were nothing to what I was experiencing this time. I was having a hard time coping with what was happening before my eyes. But from the first day working with you, I felt a sense of comfort and support. Both my dad and I were treated with the utmost respect. It was what my dad deserved. He was a phenomenal man.
My dad’s nurse was Karen. I had come to rely on her and wait for her every visit. She was here for me as much as my dad. She always explained everything thoroughly and never rushed us along. As the second week approached, my dad was worse. One day he begged me to call Karen – he just wanted to see her. She had already come earlier that day but she stopped again just to talk to him. It made him feel relaxed and comforted. She gave him so much in his final days.
His last five days were spent in the In-Care Patient Unit at Virtua. What a wonderful facility. I spent my dad’s final days by his side. The entire staff was unbelievable. Every person that walked into that room, from the cleaning person to his nurses just had such a calming, gentle way about them. It helped me tremendously in dealing with my dad’s eventual death. What you do for people is wonderful. I would have never survived this without your support, guidance and knowledge. I’m truly blessed to have been touched by Samaritan Hospice.
Fondly,
Kelly DeStefano
No comments:
Post a Comment