My mom (Florence) recently passed away on Feb. 26 at Sky Lakes Medical Center at the age of 85, after receiving what her and our family believes was the best care that any doctor and hospital could have provided.  During the five years that she lived here in Klamath Falls, she was always comforted by her family physician, Dr. Blake Berven, and his staff (Marge, Sandy and Wendy).  A visit to her doctor’s office was like a visit to a family gathering, and why not, since she considered them her family and enjoyed their friendly faces, welcomed atmosphere, and professional services.  In my mom’s eyes, there was no better doctor then “her Dr. Berven,” and that gave her great comfort in knowing she always received the best of care.

During her nine visits to the hospital, she continued to feel that same way with the treatment she received from the RNs and the CNAs.  They too, were her extended family members; and as I got to know Patty, Donna, Jackie, PJ, Tim, Monica, Janet, Jana, Fairsine, Jennifer, Shari, David, Kevin and all of the other members of the nursing staff who cared for my mom (you know who you are), I began to understand why she appreciated them so much.  You can’t teach the type of caring nature that these individuals have towards their patients in any college classes.  I believe it is who they are that guided them to be nurses.  They shared a loss, of a wonderful person, with my family; and they loved her as she loved them.

This sort of wonderful family medicine continued with her podiatrist Dr. Ross Leonard where they exchanged stories of “old New York” (her hometown) and her dentist, Dr. Madrid Uso who talked about family and former places they visited.  Even Dr. Panossian, who was not her physician, but had patients on her floor, would take the time to stop and ask how she was doing and if there was anything else that they could do for my mom or the family.  Sarah Allen, who is a social worker for Sky Lakes, guided us through the process the last four days my mom had in the hospital from immediate care, spiritual support and final arrangements.  She provided the help that we needed those last days to get through a very difficult time.

I learned from my mom the importance of having special individuals like these in your life as you go through your senior years.  For her she had the best and was very fortunate to be in this community the final years of her life.  It doesn’t seem like enough to me to say “thanks,” so I want to say thanks for all of my family from the bottom of our hearts.

Tom Del Santo and family