Four years ago we were starting our journey with my dad that involved many stays at Wesley Medical Center. My father began a cycle of Wesley's ICU, regular floor, external rehabilitation facility, home, Wesley, rehabilitation, home, etc. He had a number of medical issues, and he became disoriented, confused, and scared fairly quickly. We found that if I didn't stay overnight with him, he wouldn't let them do any of the many medical tests and procedures he needed throughout the night. So, I drove from my home in the Kansas City area every time he was admitted, and stayed with him on a chair or cot in his room. Therefore, I had a first-hand view of his care.
We met a number of great health caregivers. However, there was one who rose above all others the entire 8 months of hospitalizations, until he passed away at home. There is no way to describe how special Corie was to our family, and my dad. Every time Dad was re-admitted and Corie would walk in his room, we breathed easy. She instinctively knew when to intervene with doctors, how to help dad feel better, calm us, and even just sit and hold our hands when it was bad.
There are countless examples of her extraordinary nursing skills, compassion, and care. I can still picture her smile as she came into the room, asking my dad how he was. Then immediately turning to my mom and me, and asking how we were doing, and did we have any concerns or questions, or had we observed anything about Dad she should know. Then she listened. She would read his chart online, and the questions she asked were different than most other nurses. She would connect the dots and ask insightful questions about impact of any new treatment combinations, etc. If she felt one of his doctors needed to be contacted, she did it immediately, and seemed to hear back quickly. I told one of the doctors on her floor how incredible Corie was, and he said she was one of the absolute best - and the doctors trusted her insight.
I asked her one time how she remembered so many details about me, my family in KC, my mom, my dad, etc. She told me of a professor she had who gave a test and said half of the score would be to list the names and positions of a number of people in the hospital where they were studying/learning, of non-medical support staff who make the hospital run. Corie aced that test, and was one of two who did. Nature or nurture? I don't know, but she is gifted with her personal connection with people, which is why she often had students she trained circling around her.
Perhaps one of my most vivid memories is once when my dad was just sobbing, crying. I had never seen my dad cry before. My mom and I couldn't figure out what was troubling him. Corie came into the room, took one of his hands, kneeled by his bed while my mom and I had his other hand, and gently got him to tell us what he was afraid of. He wasn't afraid of dying, as his faith was very strong, but he was afraid of leaving my mom and me, and would we be OK? After we were able to assure him we would continue to take great care of each other, he calmed down. I will never forget that moment that the peace surrounded him, and us, and all because Corie took a few minutes to provide healing in an important way.
I love and appreciate this incredible, talented nurse. I can't think of another individual more deserving than Corie Friedman Forbes for the DAISY Award.