‘You are all very special people whose daily work is remarkable’

A heartfelt letter from family members who wanted to thank the staff at the Kiwanis Care Centre for the care they showed their dying father:

Dear Nurses, Care Aides and Administrative Staff:

We would like to take a moment to say thank you to all of you for taking care of Dave Humphreys, husband to Suzanne, father to Cindy and Karen.

We appreciate all that you did to support our family from January 2106 to August 2016. It was a tragic journey for all of us. You were there to listen to us advocate for Dave. Whenever we were upset, you listened, supported us and mane any adjustments to your daily routines in order to ensure that Dave was comfortable. You supported and reassured us when we were at a loss for what to do next.

Dave had his chosen people (you might know who you are) who connected specially with him on a beautiful level. They allowed him to walk on his own to and from the shower, made sure his nails were cut, his hair was washed and his skin was moisturized. They elicited big smiles from him whenever he saw their faces. They provided comfort for him during a scary in his life. If Dave were healthy he would have been loyal and supportive of you and would have been dedicated to supporting you with any struggles you might hav had. He was a beautiful person and many of you were able to see that in him during his time at KCC.

We are especially grateful for the guidance and support you provided us during Dave’s last days. The night nurses came in like quiet angels, setting their iPhone alarms to ensure that Dad received his pain medication every half hour. You provided guidance to us when we felt helpless. You supported us and allowed us to be with Dave right to the very end of his life. It was during the last days that we were able to see firsthand how much care and love he received from you twenty four hours a day. You kept him clean and comfortable and he was peaceful due to your quiet and diligent attendance to him. This provided us with a deeper comfort that he was safe in your care when we couldn’t be there.

We want you to know that if we could we would give all great big hugs.

Keep up the wonderful work that you do. You are all very special people whose daily work is remarkable.

Sincerely,

Karen, Suzanne and Cindy