Our Dad, Stephen “Steve” Richardson, passed away on 26 July, and before we say goodbye to him, our family wanted to say something to the people at Royal Perth Hospital who became such an important part of his story.
Dad was first admitted to Royal Perth Hospital on 2 March 2023, when our lives changed almost overnight. Many of you in ICU and Ward 6G will remember him from the months that followed, particularly throughout 2023 and into early 2024, when he spent so much time in your care.Over the three-and-a-half years that followed, Dad spent a total of 484 days in hospital, returning many times for stays of varying lengths, with almost half of that time spent between ICU and Acute Care on Ward 6G.
They were the toughest years of our lives.
Through every gruelling day, every setback and every small victory, you were there. Every smile, explanation, laugh, encouraging word, gesture of kindness and moment you simply stopped and listened gave Dad and our family hope.
You never stopped trying to make him better. Dad knew that when he was in your hands, you would give him the best possible chance of survival. And that's exactly what you did.
After 484 days of his body going through hell, and with you all fighting alongside him, Dad walked out of Royal Perth Hospital and came home.We will never forget that.To Orla, Simone, Darren, Cora, Georgia, CC, Gill, Anna, Nicole, Steven, Leandri, Michelle, Viv, Aleisha, Phuntsho, Nonto, Madi, Tigst, Bri, Parwinder, Summer, Ellie, Katrina, Lalita and Paris, and the many others whose names I unfortunately can't remember because that time was all such a blur, thank you.I know some of these would have moved on or may not receive this but if there is anyway to pass on this message to them we would be greatly appreciative.
I'll never forget Orla, Simone and the others arranging to get Dad into a wheelchair and outside the hospital, where I was waiting to surprise him with his beloved dog, Archie. Seeing Archie lifted him enormously.Things like that showed us that you weren't simply caring for a patient.
You cared about him.Dad appreciated every single person who cared for him, spoke with him, listened to him, made him laugh, encouraged him or simply made one of those incredibly difficult days a little easier. And so do we.
There are simply no words I could say, no gesture I could make and no way I could ever adequately convey the gratitude our family has for each and every one of you. “Thank you” somehow doesn't feel big enough for what you gave Dad and what you gave us. But please know that it comes from the bottom of our hearts, and that what you did for our family will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
You helped Dad through the hardest fight of his life, and you helped our family through the hardest years of ours. We will never forget what you did for him and for us and that because you gave Dad the best possible chance to survive, we were given 1,243 more days together.
Thank you for looking after our Dad,Husband, Gramps Steve.
From our entire family with love and enormous gratitude,
M
on behalf of the Richardson family
Staff attitude
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Daily living support
Seeing the whole me
Treatment
Being listened to
Involved in decisions
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