Our Comfort Care Experience: My father was at the end stage of his Huntington’s disease and was no longer able to protect his airway. This led him to develop a critical aspiration pneumonia, and his demise was imminent. Because of this, I had to make the painful decision to put my father on comfort care.

The muscular and motor impediment of my dad’s disease at this stage made his ability to communicate severely impaired even without him being at the end of life. My fear was that Dad would be in pain through his transition to death and that the nursing staff would not be able to recognize when he was in distress. Over the past year, as his disease progressed, I had spent every day I was off work assisting him. Through this, I developed a keen sense of his needs by learning how to read his facial expressions, vocalizations, and respiratory patterns. I knew it was imperative that I stay by his side through his last days, hours, and moments of life to serve as his liaison and partner for care.

With comfort care orders and parameters set by the doctor, a nurse started the medications to help my dad with his pain. As time passed, I noticed indicators that my dad was experiencing discomfort. I asked the staff to address his pain. This was a challenging period. Early the next morning, Amy came into the room, and she introduced herself as our nurse in a professional and calm manner. She listened to my concerns and educated me about the dying process. Her empathy towards my dad’s pain and my pain took away my fears. I no longer felt helpless. Through her care, my father passed away peacefully. Amy's exceptional compassion and caring made a profound impact on my family's life that morning. I am honored to nominate Amy for the DAISY Award.