BrightStar Moments
The thing that is best about the work that we do is creating "Amazing Moments" for our clients.png "unnamed-(9).png")
The AMAZING MOMENTS story of this month is the story of our recent client Ruth's last few weeks of life. Ruth, age 84, had been living in her own home after the death of her husband two years ago. She relished her quiet life with her beloved dog Collin and frequent visits with family. She had severe peripheral neuropathy and needed daily pain medication to keep the pain under control. In early May some neighbors saw her wandering in her neighborhood. She was taken to the ER and subsequently worked up for cognitive decline presumably due to side effects of narcotics. But after undergoing an MRI of the brain it was discovered that she had an advanced malignant brain tumor. She was sent home on hospice and shortly after that on Mother's Day she fell fracturing her right 6th rib. This only added to her already substantial pain. The family added night time aides but found that it was not very helpful since Ruth was requiring pain medication which needed every two hours throughout the night. Ruth's daughter Ali called requesting nursing care. Rachel Hendrickson, BSC RN and I did three night shifts at the family home before Ruth went into Silverado for Respite Care.After that the meds were taken over by Silverado nursing and BSC Aides Kim Summa, Maria Matson and Maria Carr provided night time care up until the last 2 days of life. Ruth passed from this life on 29 May 2018 in the Serenity Room at Silverado. During her time there she was surrounded in love by her daughters, granddaughter, other family members, Silverado caregivers and Collin.
Daughter Ali writes: "Mom was a private person and I think she waited for everyone to be gone so that she could pass in privacy." This is what her daughter Ali told me about our care. She said that she was so appreciative of our quickness to respond to their needs, for the overnight care of both the nurses and aides and for the great communication and reports from the BSC staff. To me she wrote: "I will miss you. You are a wonderful person. I will never forget you. I will let you know about mom's mass when it is planned." To date that mass is scheduled for some time in August.
It is for these moments of connection at critical times in people's lives that BrightStar Care exists. Thanks to all staff for continuing to create amazing moments of connection with our clients and their families.