The following article was in the Herald and News Father's Day Edition:

“I work at Sky Lakes because I have a father who has given his heart to that hospital.  My father is a physician, a pediatrician.  Many of you know him but few of you know that he chose pediatrics because he was hit by a car when he was a little boy and he never forgot the kindness and caring of the doctors who helped him.  My father sees patients, diagnoses ailments and prescribes medications.  But, like most caregivers, that is just a small part of his job.

I work as a Patient Access Supervisor at Sky Lakes Medical Center.  Everyday I watch doctors, nurses, therapists and other caregivers “see” and “treat” patients.  I also see them laugh, cry, comfort, hug, listen, wonder and carry heavy burdens of a desire to make it all better so patients and their families can be happy again.  I see physicians pouring over medical books and nurses consulting each other in an effort to do everything possible to help.

I see the entire hospital staff have meeting after meeting to improve on the finer things that help make your life easier and your stay more enjoyable.  I see the hard work that went in the creation of the building we now occupy, look carefully at what has been put into that building.  Notice an additional gift sore with relaxation items for your loved one.  Notice the waterfall, the spiritual center, the gardens, the wood, the stone, the circular patterns, the natural light.  This was all put there for you.

I work at Sky Lakes Medical Center because I grew up in a family that worked hard to make it a better place and around people who told stories about the wonderful moments that occurred within those walls:  the healing, the quiet moments, the people.

It is said that a person with a negative experience will share that story with everyone he meets, yet very rarely do we go out of our way to share the good stories because those are just expected.  It hurts me to watch my father pour days and weeks of his own heart into his work only to be hit with a complaint or a negative word about this place.  It hurts our caregivers.  It breaks them down.  It causes us to question ourselves and it adds added stress to our patients.

I implore you:  As a special gift to my father and all the other fathers who work at Sky Lakes, do something special for them this Father’s Day.

Build them up.  Collect good stories.  Share them.  Be a part of a healing environment that helps to release stress and promote healing.  Be a part of Sky Lakes.  We are just people.  We make mistakes.  We get stressed.  We have bad days.  But, overall we are all trying desperately to help.

Next time you see my father, Dr. Z, at the store, the hospital, church or wherever, share a good story with him.  Please give him that gift. And please tell him that it is from me, too.

I love you, Dad.  You do great work.

Kara Kaefring
Klamath Falls