In our day to day lives tasks become routine from waking up in the morning, to taking care of patients to making dinner. Everyone once and awhile something will remind you how very fragile we all are. It may be an accident on the highway, a friend getting sick, a reunion of a child and their military father, whatever it is that something tends to re-ground us.
In the spirit of compassion I want to share this story with you that involved such a small gesture but impacted someone's life greatly.
One Last Hug
At Genesis, we try to live our mission of providing quality and compassionate care to those who come to us in need as well as to their families. Sometimes the way the staff puts this mission into action makes us stop and catch our breaths in wonder and awe.
We recently had a patient named Walter who was nearing the end of his life. His family visited constantly and it was evident that his man was deeply loved by many. One evening Ursula, his wife of almost 70 years, was sitting at the beside in her wheelchair crying quietly. Her nursing assistant approached her. gently touched her shoulder, and asked, "Are you alright?" With tears in her eyes, Ursula looked at the nursing assistant and said, "I'd just like to hug him one more time."
The nursing assistant went to talk with Walter's nurse. Together, they reentered the room and suggested a plan to Ursula. The two nurses carefully lifted Ursula out of her wheelchair and placed her on the bed right next to her husband. She turned to him and gave him a soft kiss and a caress on his cheek. Walter slowly opened his eyes, smiled back at her, and whispered in her ear. Then he placed his head against her shoulder and drifted back to sleep.
What Walter said to his wife remains a secret between the two of them. their caresses and stillness took them on a journey of memories, all lived in a single touch and a shared smile. In moments like this, our mission to our patients and their families is exemplified in all its meaning, potential, and poignant beauty.
- Submitted by Lavonne Dwinal, Genesis Medical Center, Dewitt, IA
What's Right in Healtcare: Compiled by Studer Group
With a small gesture on a nursing assistant's and nurse's part this woman and her husband's lives were deeply touched. It is reminders like this that make the biggest difference.
Thank you for all that you do,
Karen Shammas
CEO
