My husband had a heart attack and was admitted to our local hospital. He spent the next 14 days intubated and restrained and eventually ended up with a trach.
My husband lived with PTSD from the time of his Vietnam Era service until his death in July.
At the outside hospital, my family continually told all of the staff that my husband suffered from PTSD. They seemed to lack any compassion for his condition. He woke up from his heart attack unaware of how he ended up restrained. After 15 days, I contacted the VA Hospital and requested a transfer for him, afraid that he may never improve. He was moved to the VA that day.
The morning after he was admitted to the VA we met Katherine. The amount of compassion she had was amazing. Within a couple of days, he was no longer restrained and off all of the sedation. His confusion was clearing and we were beginning to see my husband again.
Over the next weeks with the help of the staff my husband was improving, and Katherine was there every step of the way. Helping my husband regain some dignity and independence. He started walking with assistance and being able to take part in the family again. My husband had a dog that was his companion and he was missing his dog. Katherine made arrangements for him to be able to go into the hospital courtyard and spend time with not only his dog but all of our grandchildren. It was a really great day for all of us.
My husband continued to improve until a week or so later when we noticed that he was becoming jaundiced. A couple of days later came the devastating news - stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The support that Katherine gave not only to him but our entire family was wonderful.
The day my husband had his biopsy, Katherine went with him for the procedure to help relieve his anxiety but also to hopefully reduce the amount of sedation that would be needed. She talked him through every step of the procedure, and he did well.
A few days later he was moved to another floor of the hospital. Katherine called on her day off to see how he was doing before she left town for a few days. Eventually, my husband was being discharged to hospice care. On the morning of his discharge, Katherine came to see him before her shift began. He was sleeping and she left a very kind note for him. Just four days after he went into hospice care we lost him. Heartbreaking and devastating for our whole family.
I cannot put into words how much the care and compassion given to my husband by all of the staff meant to our family. Katherine was so special every step of the way. She gave excellent care always filled with compassion and respect.
Katherine is an Extraordinary Nurse who does everything possible for her patients. Our family can never give back to Katherine what she gave to us. She will always be in our hearts and memories. During my husband's illness, I met a lot of nurses and Katherine is truly a DAISY Nurse.