We are so blessed to have Ken as part of our ICU family. He shows great care and concern for our patients and families every day. As a new RN, this extra attention to detail is something difficult to master early on but Ken is effortlessly attentive. A strong testament to Ken’s ability to make incredibly meaningful connections is described in a letter from the family of the patient whom we sadly lost in January of 2021. The family was so moved by Ken’s care that they not only wrote a beautiful and moving letter, they also designed an “Excellence in Nursing” plaque for him. The letter reads as follows:

Dear Ken,

My family and I wanted to write you this letter in recognition of the care and compassion that you demonstrated while taking care of our father. When he was admitted to the hospital we were told by a critical care doctor that he had a full deck of cards in terms of the condition of his health before contracting COVID. Just months before he arrived by EMS he was out riding his bike, which was a typical daily routine for him, something that he loved to do. We watched this play out on TV for the past year, families fighting alongside loved ones to fight this terrible virus. We never once thought it would be us looking through that pane of glass. During his stay at Beaumont Taylor, he had some good nurses and some that were fair. You stood out to me and my family as one that continually gave him the respect he deserved and one that we could count on to be at his side. You provided the best possible care in our place since we couldn’t be there to hold his hand or tell him how much we all loved and missed him. You always responded to my calls to check in on his status which was so important to us when those words were the only things we could hear and hang on to for any sort of hope. I stood outside that window daily for 18 days and it was those times that you set up the iPad for us, which was the last memory for many of my other five siblings. You never made us feel like we were “putting you out” by doing this for us. While I know now more than ever ICU nurses are stretched thin, over-worked, stressed, and tired, you had such a positive attitude and calmness about you that was comforting to our family.

The last day you had my dad as a patient was on a Sunday. That morning around 11 am I called you and let you know that my mom had not seen my dad since he left by EMS two weeks prior and she was afraid of what she was about to see, not being able to comprehend how sick he got in such a short time. They were married 62 years and she only knew life with him, so thinking the end could be near was something very difficult for her. You made sure my dad’s appearance was tidy and that he looked peaceful and then you started off by telling my dad that my mom was there and that she loved him. We stayed on with him for about an hour and a half playing all their favorite songs and allowing her to take her time to say goodbye, knowing she may never see him again. Lots of tears were shed but it was something she needed to see and do, so I thank you so much for that.

After fighting for 17 days and seeing his condition decline, we decided he gave it his all. Things were not improving and it was time to change his course of care to comfort care. He passed at 10:13 pm with my son and me on each side of him holding his hand. We wanted to thank you for what you do. You have been given a gift that you should be so proud of. Thank you from our entire family.