Some stories begin in an office, Some begin with a referral, Marlene’s story began in an elevator at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford Oregon.
It was late at night when I stepped into the elevator to meet a client on the general medicine floor anxious to come home. A young man stood inside, clutching a pink suitcase as if it were a lifeline I read his expression to say ……” Oh man,:….his face said everything before he ever spoke. He looked a little unsure, I asked “Can I help”?
“I’m bringing my mother home,” he said. “I don’t know how to care for her.”
That was how I met Marlene’s family.
Her son shared the weight of bringing home his retired RN mother after extensive surgeries
She was left with a massive wound requiring a wound VAC (negative pressure dressings) and complex dressing changes. These were quite painful and there were questions about who would manage the wound, how she would survive the healing process, and what kind of care she would truly need at home.
I introduced myself and explained that this was exactly what I do. The very next day, I went to their home to assess the situation. As an advanced practice wound ostomy nurse, I understood immediately how intensive this level of wound care would be. It would require skill, time, labor, nutrition, strict non weight bearing precautions, and unwavering support. Not every nurse is trained for wounds of this magnitude.
Home health had been assigned, but I was present the day the nurse arrived and she admitted she had searched online the night before to review how to perform the dressing. She was not familiar with Negative Pressure. This was not a simple wound.
I took over the care since this was more than 21 centimeters of open tissue requiring packing, precision, and pain management. The first dressing change took nearly two hours, with lidocaine to make the process tolerable.
For Marlene to heal, everything had to align. Intensive wound care, Strict non weight bearing, Proper nutrition, Emotional support, and around the clock caregiving. She needed meals prepared, her home maintained, her boot removed and replaced, and consistent monitoring to ensure no setback jeopardized her progress. One fall would open her leg and create complications. She also needed steady encouragement during the long and often painful days of recovery.
Despite the severity of her condition, Marlene’s spirit never dimmed. It is difficult to keep a good nurse down. Even while recovering, she carried the same independence that had defined her for decades. To this day, I believe she still thinks she is going to climb a ladder and dust the highest shelf. That fierce independence was not a liability. It was her strength.
We supported wound care until she was transitioned to a provider certified to manage care at that level. Over the following weeks, we coordinated closely with her medical team and helped transition her into more hospital-based wound management when appropriate. For months, our caregivers provided near-constant support to ensure her safety and recovery at home.
On that very first dressing change, I made her a promise: “We will get you through this. One day, on the other side of this journey, you and I will sit together with a glass of wine and a charcuterie board and celebrate.”
Today, Marlene remains fierce, independent, and an integral part of our community. In more than 35 years of nursing, there have been many powerful moments, but stories like hers remind us why we do this work. Sometimes we are simply there at the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT time, providing the RIGHT care.
Marlene, Kristy, Dain, and family, thank you for trusting us during one of the most vulnerable seasons of your lives. We are honored to have walked alongside you. We are here for you, always, and grateful to be considered adopted family.
