Upstate hospital creates new tradition to honor veterans in end-of-life care

EASLEY, S.C. (WSPA) – Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital is doing something no other Prisma Health hospital has done before: bestowing their highest honor onto veterans who don’t have much longer to live.

“It kind of sparked in my head,” said Colt Shope, a Nurse Manager at Baptist Easley. “I wish we could do something in [a previous patient’s] final moments and that’s kind of where the idea came from of ‘why don’t we present the patient and his family an American Flag?’.”

Since February, the staff at Baptist Easley have draped an American flag over the bed of 10 veterans who were receiving end-of-life care. The idea started when a nurse on the progressive care unit told Shope she wanted to somehow honor those who served.

“Sometimes we think that the veterans get a lot of recognition, but there’s a lot of times like in [a previous patient’s] case they didn’t,” said Shope. “That little powerful statement means a lot to me and our staff about giving them the recognition that they deserve.”

The hospital’s first honoree was a Vietnam War veteran in early March. According to Shope, the veteran’s wife told staff she felt he didn’t get the recognition he deserved when he came back from the war. But when Baptist Easely staff came in with an American flag and draped it over her husband’s hospital bed, Shope said tears streamed down on many faces.

For Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital Registered Nurse Juanita Brown, the feeling of not being alone is something she truly understands. For 20 years, she served as a reserve Air Force Master Sergeant, retiring just two weeks ago.

“Being a veteran myself, you are afraid [of being in an emergency department],” said Brown. ‘It’s not your best day. You’re in an uncomfortable place in an uncomfortable bed.”

Brown helped to administer aid to soldiers in helicopters as they were being transported to hospitals. She became a registered nurse in 2015.

“They give their life for this country every day and this flag means a lot to us,” said Brown. “To have it placed over you in your last moments is just a beautiful, beautiful thing.”

Brown acknowledges she’s never had the honor to bestow an American flag onto a veteran at Baptist Easley, but one day she hopes she will get that opportunity. She also hopes she’ll be able to live long enough to have that honor performed on her.

“It’s an honor to take care of people,” said Brown while fighting back tears in her eyes. “It’s an honor to have people trust you. It’s an honor to take care of people in their weakest moments.”

Prisma Health said that Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital plans on beginning the tradition later this year and hopes its other facilities will want to start in the future.

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