Providing Comfort

When Harold Aaron passed away in February, no one knew that his memory would leave a lasting impact. But thanks to a special memorial gift to Avera McKennan by his wife, DeLores, and his three daughters, his memory lives on.

As a kidney transplant patient, Harold saw a lot of Avera McKennan. Over the span of a year, Harold was admitted to Avera McKennan several times. Each time he returned, he was greeted as if an old friend. "The staff treated Harold like he was their favorite uncle," DeLores said. "Through the many times we came to visit, many of the staff would welcome us warmly with hugs and greetings, just like they were greeting a good friend."

Through several procedures and weeks of recuperation, Avera McKennan staff helped both Harold and his family get through some incredibly tough times with whatever extra they could give, whether it was a word of encouragement or an extra meal tray.

Because of Avera McKennan’s dedication to Harold’s health and comfort, DeLores and her daughters wanted to give something back. They donated part of the generous memorial gifts they received to Avera McKennan in order to provide an extra measure of comfort to future patients and families.

"The care was above and beyond what we expected," Delores says. "We were so impressed with the care and treatment he received and wanted a way to say thank you."

In the end, DeLores reached out to other families with her gift – a special sleeper chair – both as a thank you for Harold’s extraordinary care and to touch those going through the hardships of sickness with a little extra comfort.

"We made this gift so that other families can stay close to their loved ones in comfort," DeLores concluded. "We hope that others get a chance to appreciate all that the people at Avera McKennan do to make patients welcome."