Honoring a dying patient’s wish for a family Christmas

“If she wants Christmas, I’ll give her Christmas,” said Katee Bornmann, a charge nurse at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, who was working with a dying patient in early December.

The patient, upon learning of her terminal diagnosis, had told the care team her only wish was to spend one more Christmas with her whole family. She was not able to leave the hospital, but Bornmann understood how important it was to honor her request.

So, Bornmann put a call out to charge nurses throughout the hospital. She planned to create a winter wonderland in December for her patient and visiting family members and requested help with decorations.

The surgical progressive care unit, hepatology transplant unit and burn ICU unit responded to Bornmann’s message with items to share, from garlands and tinsel to string lights and snowman towels. Bornmann quickly got to work, converting the patient’s hospital room into a warm spot for a holiday celebration.

“The burn ICU made huge paper snowflakes. It was incredible to see hospital staffers come together to bring my patient’s final wish to fruition,” Bornmann said.

Soon, the patient’s family arrived at the hospital wearing seasonal sweaters, wrapped gifts in hand. Bornmann and her team set the family up in the patient’s room, letting them know they could call if they needed anything but giving them space and privacy to celebrate together.

“The family spent the day unwrapping the gifts they brought and watching Christmas movies,” Bornmann said. “They were so grateful, even tearful, for the time they got together and really appreciated the decoration details. I remember they loved that her bed was wrapped in tinsel.”

Bornmann created an experience the family will never forget.

David Harris, a nurse manager at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, saluted Bornmann with a Celebrating You commendation, writing:

“Katee’s actions exemplify the very heart of nursing. She saw beyond clinical care and recognized the emotional needs of both the patient and their family. Her ability to lead with kindness, advocate for patient experience, and create a space of warmth and love during such a heartbreaking time is a true testament to the power of nursing.

“Her humanistic touch is a reminder of why nursing is one of the most trusted and compassionate professions.”