Jennifer Ping
December 2018
Jennifer
Ping
,
RN
Medical Intermediate
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

My mother's health was declining from a new terminal cancer diagnosis, and myself and family had decided to transition mom's care to comfort care only late in the evening. Since this was late in the evening it had not been noted within the chart yet. Upon shift change, I let Jennifer know this and we discussed needing this being discussed with a provider.
Later that evening it came back that mom would need several interventions to increase her blood counts. Jennifer facilitated the on-call hospitalist to come to bedside to discuss with myself and step-dad to update her plan of care to comfort care. My mother had been begging for days to eat but was unable for numerous health reasons. With the okay from the doctors with mom's care being transitioned to comfort care, Jennifer went and bought my mom pudding and a Pepsi (her favorite). Since she failed her swallow study, we thickened the Pepsi for her, and I was able to feed my mom. I don't think I have ever seen my mother so happy. After not eating or drinking for over a week, my mother was delighted for the Pepsi and food. That moment is the best moment I could ask for in my mother's last final days.
There are not enough words to thank Jennifer for facilitating these memories for me and taking her time, money and compassion to give me that special memory with my mother. It takes a very special nurse on a busy night to help one-on-one help bath my mom and run to get her a soda/food, so I don't have to take five minutes away from spending time with my mom. Her compassion as a nurse is truly amazing; there aren't enough words to thank her for going above and beyond. The gift she gave me and my mom in her last final days is truly invaluable.