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Healing the Heartbroken

Recovering from surgery, Bruno Barro was afraid he would miss his beloved wife’s funeral. Kaiser Permanente nurses in Modesto stepped in to help.

Sometimes, healing means much more than taking care of someone’s physical needs.

Tiffany Harkins, RN, was caring for a 91-year-old patient recovering from colon cancer surgery at KP Modesto Medical Center, when she noticed him crying on his hospital bed.

She approached Bruno Barro and learned that Antoinetta, his beloved wife, had recently died in hospice care. He said her funeral was the next day. And he wouldn’t be able to attend, due to his hospitalization.

But Tiffany was determined to help Bruno heal from his emotional pain. She contacted her manager, who in turned spoke with Kaiser Permanente hospital leaders and administrators. Less than 24 hours later, Bruno attended the funeral mass in a wheelchair pushed by the manager, Quyen Nguyen, RN.

Watch the short video above to see Bruno and his caring nurses.

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This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. After reading this…The tears fell. This was a very nice and touching story. I am sure he and the family were most appreciative. This was the right thing to do.

  2. This is wonderful, thank you to all who assisted this man. Saying a final good-bye to our loved ones is such a difficult thing.

    1. Happy Tears!!!! That was the right thing to do!! He is so lucky to have had an RN who cared so much! … Every patient, every time.

  3. COMPASSION & SERVICE: those are the words to describe Manager Nguyen’s action. What an example for all of us Kaiser employees. Thank you.

  4. This is what we should always be about. Patients first! Going so above and beyond to care for those entrusted to us. Well done!

  5. Teamwork at its best. Outside the box thinking. Bold move. Doing the Right thing. No medication could equal the Joy this patient and his family experienced. They will always remember that Feeling. Kudos to all involved. God bless you all.

  6. Awwww, this is very touching and what a great way to empathize with the member and show a beautiful form of appreciation.

  7. This really brought tears in my eyes while reading this story. I thank Kaiser for every nurse and Dr to be like this to help every patient.

  8. What a heartwarming story! It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you to the nurses and leaders who provided a way for this member/patient to leave the hospital to attend his wife’s funeral services.

  9. This story brought tears to my eyes. It is so beautiful. Thanks so much for putting it out there for us to read.

  10. What a beautiful story! God bless him and all of the nursing staff. I am so honored to work here and be a part of what Kaiser stands for.

  11. I could not help but tear up when I watched this video. The care and compassion Bruno’s nurses showed him not only for his physical recovery, but his emotional well-being, is truly heartwarming!

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