ABOVE AND BEYOND

Dialysis Charge Nurse Mary Paulson has seen it all in her 29 years of nursing at St. Charles Bend. Experienced, kind and dedicated are words that anyone who knows Mary would use to describe her.  In December 2007, determination was added to the top of that list.

Mary was adamant that her patient, Doris*, would have a memorable Christmas. Doris was a gravely ill dialysis patient, and everyone was certain this Christmas would be her last. Doris had been in and out of the hospital for years. When admitted last December, she was weak and her condition was deteriorating rapidly.

Normally cheerful even through her worst days, on Christmas Eve Doris was visibly upset. This change in demeanor did not escape Mary’s attention. She sat down at Doris’ bedside. Her heart went out to Doris. There was nothing else she could do for her medically. She decided just to listen. What she heard surprised her. “Doris told me she was upset because she was too sick to buy a Christmas gift for her husband,” Mary said. “I was moved by her selflessness and knew I had to do something.”

Mary had a long shift ahead of her. There was no way she could get to a store before closing. Determined to help, Mary tracked down her supervisor and Critical Care Nurse Manager, Mel Rothermel, and pleaded with her to go shopping for Doris. “Mary was insistent. It was Christmas Eve and I had a thousand things to do. Setting foot in a mall definitely wasn’t one of them,” Mel said. “It was clear by the look in her eyes that saying no was not an option. And I knew Mary was right. We had to do this for Doris.”

Armed with Doris’ shopping list, Mel battled the crowds at Sportsmen’s Warehouse. When the store was sold out of the pants Doris wanted, Mel was not deterred. Via cell phone, they put their heads together and came up with a great alternative. After wrapping the gifts, Mel headed back to the hospital. “I’ll never forget the look on Doris’ face when I brought her the gifts.

She cried and was so grateful. We all found this experience to be so meaningful; we’re already planning on shopping for our chronically ill patients next year.” Mel shared. The happiness Mel and Mary brought to this family in their time of need made an unexpected impact on them both. “That day the time and effort to give this gift seemed like so much,” Mel recalled. “As it turns out, this was a highlight of the holidays. It was fabulous.”

Like all of our caregivers, Mary and Mel believe healing the heart, mind, and spirit of their patients helps to heal the body. They truly embody the Cascade Healthcare Community mission, “to improve the lives of those we serve in a spirit of love and compassion.”