Stephanie Raley
January 2015
Stephanie
Raley
,
RN
ICU
KershawHealth Medical Center
Camden
,
SC
United States

 

 

 

Stephanie took care of my father at the end of his life while he was in ICU. Our family experienced first hand the level of care, dedication, kindness and courteousness that she gave to our father. She took the time to get to know him and talk with him, and he really appreciated having such a kind and caring nurse at his side. Daddy told her how much he loved his family and also about how he had been talking to God each day. He seemed excited to talk about all of the things God and the angels had been telling him. Stephanie pulled me aside one morning and told me that often this is a sign that he will not be with us much longer. I knew if this was the case, I needed to allow my son and my Dad to say goodbye to one another. My father lived with us and he was very close to his grandson. I knew the rules in the ICU did not permit children under 12 to enter, and my son is 9 years old. Stephanie knew we did not have much time, so she arranged it so they could hold each other and say goodbye while he was still awake and could talk. I would like to thank her for the gift of that goodbye for my son and father. He will always remember this exception to the rules and those loving arms he got to feel one last time.