My dad came into DCH Hospital at the end stage of kidney disease with difficulty with dialysis and dementia. He had lost bowel control, his personality had changed, and he could certainly be called a challenging patient.
The second day of our stay a nurse by the name of Alesha came into his room. She spoke to my dad and then saw my mother's heart was breaking as she was crying uncontrollably. Alesha got on her knees in front of my mom, held her hand, introduced herself, and said she was there for my dad, for her, and my family. From that moment on she was.
A short time later, Alesha came back into the room. She explained to dad that the doctor had ordered a shot to be given in the stomach. My dad at this point defiantly announced that he did not want the shot and became agitated and a little disrespectful. Without skipping a beat she told him the type of shot and started talking to him about his family. She calmed him almost immediately, a rare feat, and then asked if she could see his stomach. He agreed and she told him she would do her best to make sure he felt little pain. He finally agreed, she gave him the shot and he never realized it. He was very happy and never slowed down talking about his family.
Somewhat later we had to call for help. I asked for a PCA to help as he had an accident in the bed. Almost immediately our Alesha was in the room and allowing the utmost of dignity to my dad, calmed him and began cleaning him. I am not sure he would have allowed anyone other than family at that point to be involved. I soon recognized that she was now family.
As the days went by we all found ourselves praying that Alesha was our nurse that day. Her professionalism, competence, and compassion were simply unbelievable. Somehow almost immediately she knew all of our names which included my dad's wife, kids, and grandchildren. She could see our grief as we told her Hospice was being called in. She came to each of us, called us by name, and asked if she could hug us.
Alesha made us feel like we were the most important patient and family in the hospital. After several days, Hospice informed us they had a bed. She came into our room checked on us as she did continuously and saw the preacher with the family just before we left for Hospice. The preacher prayed for the family and we all held hands including Alesha. After his prayers, she asked if she could say a word of prayer as well. It was the sweetest prayer and brought incredible peace to the family. As we all left the room she hugged and called each one of us by name. She gently kissed my father on the forehead as he left for Hospice and he smiled.
Many nurses have a job, Alesha has a calling! When we left the hospital for Hospice my mom summed it up best, she told Alesha we loved her and she is family. My entire family will be forever grateful to Alesha!