Angela, an advanced practice nurse in our care management team, knew time was of the essence. Her patient's health was declining, and her final wish was to pass away in the comfort of her own home beside her dog. The high levels of oxygen and close monitoring she required made that seem out of reach. But as her care team began to focus on her quality of life and prepare to transition to hospice, Angela felt there must be something she could do. Although the patient appeared stable, Angela knew how quickly things could change. She wanted to give the patient a chance to reunite with her beloved dog, even before she left Ocean University Medical Center, in hopes to bring her peace. After a discussion with her nursing supervisor, Angela asked the patient's son to bring her dog for a visit. Within an hour, they had both arrived, truly grateful for the opportunity to bring joy to their loved one. Angela was able to witness the sweet reunion between the woman and her senior dog. Although her faithful companion was both blind and deaf, she recognized her quickly by scent. The patient leaned over from the bed to greet her furry best friend as they were finally reunited. “It was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever witnessed,” says Angela. “Once the dog realized it was her, he wouldn’t stop licking her with affection. The patient was overjoyed and beaming with happiness.” The following day, the patient’s condition was stable enough for her to go home for hospice care. “Her dog restored her,” says Angela. “The love and connection truly lifted her spirit. It was the best medicine we could have given her and her joyous reaction was all the thanks I needed.” Angela, who has her own senior dog named Simba, is sure the patient's dog too benefited greatly from that visit and this patient coming home. “Dogs form strong bonds with their human families and are sensitive to emotions or one's absence.” “This was such a heartwarming moment in my career,” she says. “It’s experiences like this that make what we do really count.” #PeopleofHMH #NursesWeek (fb)

Johnny, a high school basketball star, faced one opponent his teammates didn't: stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. You wouldn't know it from his performance. The 18-year-old, known as Johnny Buckets, underwent treatment at Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital during his junior year at Ridgewood High School. He refused to let cancer sideline his dreams. Despite the grueling cancer treatment, he never missed a game, playing on opening night. He went on to lead his team in scoring and became the 105th player in state history to score more than 2,000 points. His inspiring journey, featured by ESPN, is a testament to his determination, his perseverance and the life-changing impact of the care he received. Watch his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ats2ArN_qcM (fb)