Recently, my family had the unfortunate chance to use the emergency room at Kaua’i Veterans Memorial Hospital when my daughter accidentally spilled a bowl of hot saimin (which was her most favorite food) onto her lap, causing a second-degree burn.
Recently, my family had the unfortunate chance to use the emergency room at Kaua’i Veterans Memorial Hospital when my daughter accidentally spilled a bowl of hot saimin (which was her most favorite food) onto her lap, causing a second-degree burn.
This type of accident, unfortunately, is common because saimin is such a favorite food for kids. The burn was severe and she had to stay in the hospital for six days. During these six days we stayed with her, sleeping in there with her and comforting her the best we could. The nurses there were so wonderful to us; they gave us a huge room with an extra bed for my fiancee and our son because our daughter wanted us there with her.
The one good thing that came out of this terrible accident was meeting Dr. Coleman and the wonderful nurses at KVMH. Dr. Coleman and the nurses gave her very extra attention and made her laugh, even at times when she was in extreme pain while we were changing her bandages.
Dr. Coleman and a few of the nurses were even trying to pitch in to help us get an air conditioner for her bedroom. Because we live in Kekaha, the heat and dust could contribute to infection, and being cooler would make it a lot more comfortable for her to heal.
Dr. Coleman is the most outstanding doctor I have ever met. She goes the extra mile and then some for my daughter. She brought her two children to hang out and keep my daughter company while we got her hospital bed set up at home and made sure her room was ready for her. I haven’t met many doctors who would come and visit on her day off and then go to Longs in Lihu’e and pick up medicine for her that wasn’t available in their hospital pharmacy.
I have heard many criticisms about KVMH (mostly from people who are loyal to Wilcox Memorial Hospital), but through my own personal experience, I was shown the most caring and compassion from all the staff and even the kitchen (with my daughter’s picky eating habits) that I would never doubt the competence and skills of this hospital. I feel a lot safer knowing that we have such a fantastic medical facility with caring and very able people working close to my home.
I hope the rumor that Wilcox is trying to close KVMH is not true, because I feel that Wilcox has enough patients that depend on them, and the people of the west side communities need a competent hospital close to our home because some emergencies can’t wait until we reach Lihu’e.
My deepest gratitude to all the nurses that endured my daughter’s demands at all hours of the day and night with a smile and kind words, and most of all to Dr. Coleman, who we consider a part of our family now. You’re the best.
ARRIYANA, TONI, DAYNE and LITTLE DAYNE GONSALVES
