Kimberly Still has been a nurse for four years, and she enjoys helping people and making connections with her patients. However, she never expected a patient to change her life so quickly.
When Still was caring for a terminally ill woman at Northside Gwinnett Hospital in Georgia, the patient worried about what would happen to her hybrid Jax Chihuahua when she passed away. So Still promised that she would make sure the dog was taken care of. Before Still knew, she adopted Jax and fell in love with him. The woman passed away peacefully knowing her fluffy friend was in good hands.
A dying wish of a woman
Patient Still is being cared for with no children or family members around, so all she has is her dog. She talks about Jax often and worries that he won’t have a good home after she dies.
During the patient’s final days, several family members went into town. When she died, they took Jax to a shelter. Still knowing that was not what the woman wanted for her dog, so she became increasingly worried.
“I’m very worried that he won’t stand a good chance and possibly get knocked out if he doesn’t come out of the shelter,” Still said.
So Still went to the shelter and adopted Jax. She doesn’t want to adopt a dog, but it’s like fate for her.
Jax becomes family!
There was still another little dog, and fortunately, the two quickly became friends. Still forms a special bond with Jax, and she’s grateful that she stood up to give him a new home.
“I was like, I’ll never get rid of him. He’s so sweet. He’s one of the most loving dogs ever,” says Still.
Jax is also a great reminder for Still of why she’s a nurse. She says the people she cares about need to feel heard and know they’re important to someone, and Jax is the key to her patient’s heart.
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The Organization DAISY, an organization that recognizes nurses, was so impressed by Still’s actions that they presented her with the DAISY Foundation Award. The award is a way to honor her hard work and dedication to her patients.
Knowing that not every nurse can adopt a patient’s dogs, she is grateful that she had the opportunity. Not only did she grant her patient one last wish, but Jax and the patient made her life more fulfilling.
“I could never have guessed the connection you develop with some people when you take care of them,” says Still.
Featured pictures: screenshot, Southernliving.com
