‘Angels in Disguise’ at Mars Hill facility

‘Angels in Disguise’ at Mars Hill facility

To the editor:
    “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
Leo Buscaglia 

    Recently my family experienced a grueling loss of a loved one. We sat for hours and watched her slip from our lives. Grief is a complicated emotion and in the process of sadness, some amazing people touched our family. These are people who spend their days assisting sick patients; these are people who aren’t seen in the public eye; these are people who lay quilts on dying loved ones; these are people who talk to the unconscious as they explain each procedure; these are angels in disguise.
    We hurry through our daily lives and don’t realize that there are people suffering and dying each day. Through our grief we have been awakened to the fact that we should be aware of how important it is to be kind to everyone. An act of kindness can make a huge impact on others.
    The Mars Hill Skilled Care Unit is a small facility in The Aroostook Medical Center, but the dedication and compassion of the staff is amazing. You haven’t met some of these heroes, but Gail Hallett, Pam Codrey, Sue Rideout, Nancy Faye, Vicki Michaud, Bernie Muffler, Aron Charette, Velvet Shaw, Cherry Cowan, Judy Collins, Sue Pryor, Dan McArdle, Geraldine Dyer, Amanda Clair, Bev Chasse, Sandra Faulkner, Kim Donahue, Kris Bradstreet, Lisa Smith, Kenna Prue, Tim Larrabee, Kelly Lundeen and Marcy Lamoreau are there. They are there watching loved ones slip away and comforting families.
    These people are beacons of hope in a world full of pain and suffering. So many hospital experiences are negative and the patient and family leave feeling angry and insignificant. This facility deserves an award for the professionals who make a difference in the lives of others.
    As you go to work each day, remember the people who put their heart and soul into listening, smiling, and caring. These people have changed my life and I hope my family’s words might have impact on the lives of others.