Comments from VNA Patients
"I think the VNA means 'Very Nice Attention'!"
"In a world in which we are constantly reminded about indifference and apathy, you demonstrated that there are good people on earth who are selfless and who really care."
"If every patient and family receives the care and attention that our family was fortunate enough to receive from you, then they will be truly blessed."
"Sometimes, we are given more than we think we can handle. But with the assistance of people like you, it makes it easier to cope."
"Work like yours should not go unrewarded. Although for all of you I know that at the end of the day you can look back on all you have done and know you have made a difference."
"Because of VNA Hospice, when Jim died, he died in my arms. What a blessing that was for both of us!"
"Thank you for helping us on our way to getting our life back."
"I never met so many caring people in my life. The professionalism was remarkable, the compassion was endless. To have strangers enter your home at the most vulnerable stage in your life -- and yet to feel their warmth, their earnestness and their perseverance -- was wonderful and made all the difference."
"We will be forever grateful for the outstanding care our father received. The wonderful people who came here were dedicated, sincerely compassionate and consistently caring and supportive."
"Without you, I wouldn't have made it through the last six months. You took such good care of me, and you always made me laugh while you were here and cheered me up before you left."
"I would lay my life on the line with your nurse because she is so professional, so kind and caring - and when it comes right down to it, she really knows her stuff!"
"My father-in-law is a wonderful person, with a very special way of touching people's hearts. Thank you for touching his. He respects you as a caregiver and as a friend."
"I was very scared and anxious, and they were excellent -- teaching me, checking me, offering their care and concern. Because of them, I was able to recover at home."
.Many times, people don't realize the impact they have on a person's life. You entered my home to care for my mother during a time of so many changes for her, and her needs were more than met -- plus, your interest and genuine concern put her at ease. I will truly be indebted to you for a lifetime."
"Your nurses' expertise in the care of the patient -- my husband -- and compassion for my own responsibilities, have been a god-send! During this traumatic time in our life, your nurses have been my pillars of strength."
"Your nurse is so compassionate. She never makes me feel rushed or uncomfortable. She makes me feel like life is still worth living."
"Your nurse's cheerful personality, pleasant demeanor, and professional manner were such a great source of comfort to my wife. She spoke often to the nurses at Mass General Hospital about how wonderful "her" VNA nurse was to her. This nurse brings such a caring attitude into the patient's home, that it gives the patient the will to fight the illness. My son and I will never forget her."
"Though her case load was heavy, your nurse never rushed through a visit with the old routine. I would come in from work and find her sitting on the couch, speaking in that soft voice, explaining medical changes or just shooting the breeze for a few minutes to change my mother's psychological frame of mind. Never did my mother feel apprehensive, frightened or unnerved. Your nurse answered all questions with intelligible responses, never hiding the facts but presenting them with an air of calm. She brought laughter and spirit to my mother's home."
"Our family is so appreciative for your role in keeping our loved ones at home, with family. You make dreams come true!"
"It seems as though so many years of illness in my family, including my own, has been made tolerable only because of your kind and caring efforts. Without your wonderful care, I don't think that I would still be here. I always say that people like you are hand-picked by God to do His work in healing the sick. Thank you for being so special!"
"Because of my specific physical problems, physical therapy proved to be a bit of a challenge for my total knee replacement. Your therapist was able to work with me to meet the challenges and did so with not just compassion but drive as well. It wasn't always easy, but she was able to get me into the best shape I could have been in. Her dedication to my individual needs made my therapy much more bearable. Her 'up' attitude and "can do" (or at least try) has given me a much improved life, and I am so grateful. I write to say that it isn't always you find someone who will listen, who is dedicated and full of compassion, while also possessing exceptional knowledge and professionalism. I thank God I was the one who was blessed to have her as my therapist."
"Your nurse is a breath of fresh air for my Dad! She shows compassion, always explains things to him, checks for his OK before she does something. She is able to get him out of bed and he feels more relaxed after her care."
"All of your staff have fine qualities and we highly recommend the VNA to everyone we know."
"What I can't do today, they've actually made me believe I can do tomorrow."
"Words cannot fully express my gratitude and thanks to your wonderful organization. I could not have gotten through these past few months without the caring, love, hugs and absolutely top-notch nurses who I was honored to have in my home, caring for my husband. Your nurse had so much patience with him. I was so nervous that I would hurt him or do something wrong, but she would just smile that great smile of hers and I knew I was okay. Once when I needed her, she arrived in the middle of a blinding snowstorm. I cannot begin to tell you how much she did for me that day. Thank you, Lowell VNA, thank you."
My Dad is a stroke patient who has been under the care of your agency since March, following a second stroke in February. I wanted to take a few minutes to compliment the exemplary care he has received from your staff. Following his first stroke we were referred to a different agency for home care. To say this has been a different experience for both my Dad and myself is a gross understatement. Your nurses have shown both care and compassion along with strong nursing skills. At one point my Dad developed an intestinal virus and they were supportive and available to me at all times. They not only came to see him, but called in between to check on both of us. His therapists have worked diligently with him and offered suggestions and alternatives which have been very helpful. I have never felt that their main goal was to just hurry up and discharge him, bur rather to work hard to help him reach his potential. His home health aide is a super woman. I literally trust her with my Dad's life. His social worker has let me know that she is readily available to answer questions or address concerns. The fact is that this entire group has made me feel that support of the caregiver is a major role for them, along with patient care. I would like to thank them very much for all they have done."
"Thank you all for the great care I received during my time of need. It's wonderful to know that there are people who are kind and willing and experienced to help us recover as quickly as possible. I have been the recipient of kind and gentle care from each and every one associated with your organization, and I'm on my way back to good health."
"Today, I have just completed a series of physical therapy sessions for my recent knee replacement surgery under the direction of your therapist. My sincerest thanks to your organization for providing me with the high quality of professionalism and training that she has shown during this period of recovery. She had a thorough knowledge and understanding of my physical needs and limitations. She worked me through the exercises, educating me along the way, exhorting me to my limits. I received good solid advice and training that was very beneficial, and I quickly learned to trust her professional knowledge. Her sensitivity and caring attitude was greatly appreciated and still enhances my continued recovery."
"As someone who has lived in Lowell over 40 years and worked in various agencies, I have always known about the fine work of the Lowell VNA. However, this February, the VNA became a very personal help when a leg injury resulted in a wound that wasn't healing properly. The relief of having these fine professionals coming to my home on a regular basis cannot be overestimated! The nurses were so helpful and pleasant - and I felt very fortunate as well for their expertise. It was truly a Godsend to receive such wonderful care and I will be forever grateful!"
"As the only child and the one responsible for getting my mother and father the needed care, I cannot say enough about your organization. They have enabled my parents to stay here in their home after the various hospital and rehab stays (and there were many this past year between the two of them). Your nurses became like family and helped us through some very stressful times and were just wonderful with my parents. At one point we were exposed to using the services of another health care service. They were so missing the professionalism and care which the Lowell VNA provided. I just want to say thank you so much to everyone at the Lowell VNA. It is such a comfort to know that an organization like yours is serving the community."
"I have recently transferred from the VNA home health care service to the VNA Hospice program. This note comes to tell you of my gratitude to all who participated in my care. All of them treated me with the respect and dignity that only compassionate and caring people would possess, and you staff certainly qualifies. I have to tell you that when I had the choice of which organization I wanted for home health care, I did not hesitate to say Lowell VNA. I have never regretted the decision and would and am highly recommending you to all who ask. Thank you and your organization for making people feel happy about being home, and happy with the people who treat them."
"To Robert's Nurse: You have been a telephone voice and a source of strength on the other end of the line. For me, as one of the many physicians caring for Robert during the last year, knowing that you were there and able to do much of hard work necessary to allow this family to care for their son during his difficult illness has been a pleasure. You should know that the professionalism and the caring which you exhibited, especially during the last several weeks, is often unrecognized but much appreciated."
"I am writing to inform you of the outstanding and amazing service we have received from one of your nurses who is caring for our daughter Rita. Rita is a twin who was 10 weeks premature and complicated with her own uniquenesses as well. Let's just say she is very delicate and a miracle at the very least. Your nurse has been there for us constantly and always - I must emphasize always - brings a smile into our home. We have two other children and she is so sweet to our other children as well. It makes things so much easier. Rita recently had surgery and we knew it would be a smooth recovery with your nurse coming by the house to check on her. In fact, her surgeon wanted to keep her for observation one more day but I explained how we had this terrific VNA nurse who would be coming into the house. The doctor then allowed our discharge. You are so fortunate to have this nurse as an employee. She is an amazing representative for the VNA and offers our family superb healthcare, a caring personality and a sense of humor that is delightful. Our many, many thanks!
"We are writing to thank you for the wonderful service afford to our mother. Your nurses and therapists have been great. They were at all times professional and demonstrated a genuine sense of caring about their patient. Our mother is a nervous person and their actions had a calming effect upon her, and as a result made our lives better as well. Please extend our thanks to all who helped our mother get back on her feet. It is comforting to know that medical services on such a high level are available here in the Merrimack Valley and that they are accessible to ordinary folks like us."
"This is just a note to thank everyone who helped me get better. When I came home from Rehab, I could not get up out of bed myself, could not get into the tub and many other things I could not do and now I can do it all, thanks to VNA. Thanks to everyone who made my life worth living again."
To the VNA Finance Director: "Thank you for all of your assistance in helping resolve my concerns with my wife's final billing for Hospice service. I would like to additionally thank you for your patience as we went through the discussions of VNA policy and my BC/BC insurance contract. I'm sure I sounded somewhat irrational at times. But losing someone who's such an integral part of your life can make it very stressful to discuss anything related to the difficult time they went through. I realize you were kind enough to get my final billing waived, but in turn, I would like you to accept the enclosed as a donation for VNA Hospice. My wife accepted her condition with little complaint, but without your nurse those final days would have been even more difficult. All of the VNA people that I had occasion to meet were professional and caring people. You are obviously one more."
"Many, many years ago, my mother gave birth to 10 siblings. My sister and I had (in summer) full responsibility of 7 brothers and one younger sister while our mother worked the second shift in the mill. We lived in Dracut and she and my Dad had no doctor. A neighbor would call the Lowell VNA when the doctor could not make a house call. The first to arrive was a wonderful nurse called Miss Grimsett and we would breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that our mother and the baby would be O.K. Your holiday card last year had a photograph of nurses from that time long ago, and I'm almost sure that our wonderful Miss Grimsett is one of the nurses in that picture. Enclosed is a contribution to honor her name."
"Thank you for caring for my grandmother the way that you did. I moved out of state and had a hard time, being unable to help care for her from 800 miles away. Once Grammy moved in with my parents, I felt more useless than ever. The only time I ever felt true relief was when my mother told me how much help she was receiving from the VNA. She had nothing but good things to say about your staff and services. Thank you for treating Grammy the way she deserved to be treated and for giving my family and me a sense of true peace for the first time in years."
