EDITOR’S NOTE: The story below first appeared in the 8/8 Special Edition of The Anchor, which focused on Zero Harm.
Amanda Cooper, Front office Coordinator for UM Shore Medical Group – Pulmonary Care, shared a powerful and heartfelt story about an amazing act of kindness by Fernando DeLeon, MD, to help a patient about to go into hospice care who was very worried about who would take care of her 15-year-old dog, Molly. This selfless act of compassion is an extreme example of our pursuit of zero harm in action, and of the many ways we help our patients every day.
“I work for Dr. DeLeon, a pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist with the UM Shore Medical Group in Chestertown. A few months ago we had a patient who needed to make the decision to go into hospice. She has a 15-year-old dog and Dr. DeLeon saw how stressed she was not knowing who was going to care for her when she went into hospice.
Without hesitation or even being asked, he offered to take her dog into his care. He now takes care of her 15-year-old sweet girl for her. She went into hospice relieved knowing her beloved pet was being cared for. This is true compassion.”