At the February 23 Service of Remembrance a “common chorus” was sang by the family representatives who spoke.  Each family was able to name specific things staff or departments had done to make their time of losing a beloved family member just a bit gentler than it would otherwise have been.  Here are few specific acts of kindness that were mentioned:

• One patient who was on 7 South was celebrating his 64^thWedding Anniversary two days before he died.  The staff knew this would be their last wedding anniversary and had Dietary provide a small cake with his dinner tray.  His wife had tears of joy for the love they shared as she told this portion of their hospital experience.
• One patient’s family said they had been in these units: Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, High Level Care Unit and 7 North during the time they were here.  They reported that the staff on each unit showed genuine concern for the patient and the family members.  The daughter of the patient said, “The staff treated us like we were part of their family.”
• One patient arrived by ambulance and was given CPR in the ambulance and in the Emergency Department.  As it happened in this case the administration of CPR  did not result in saving his life.  The family apologized for not thanking the Emergency Department staff that evening for all they did for the patient.  The daughter said, “We were all so overwhelmed by our emotions that the thought of saying thank you did not even cross our minds.”

It is common at our Service of Remembrance to hear comments like the ones shared in this article.  The evening was a reminder to me that even though we do hear complaints from some patients, we also please many patients who never get the chance to convey their appreciation.  The evening was an encouragement to me to remember that even though we don’t receive a “thank you”, that does not mean the care we have given is not appreciated.