NEGU Nurse Beth Ann
shared by Hero Joshua’s mommy
I am writing this on behalf of our late son Joshua Cramer. Joshua was diagnosed with DIPG on June 28th, 2011 at the age of 13 and lost his battle on May 29th, 2012– just days after his 14th birthday. During Josh’s battle with this monster, he needed to be placed on life support on November 29th 2011. Josh was hospitalized 3 times from the time he was placed on life support to the time of his passing– 2 of those stays were lengthy ( 33 nights and 66 nights) stays at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. We encountered many incredible doctors and nurses, but Beth Ann McKeown stands out the most. Josh adored her and the feeling was mutual. Beth Ann always treated Josh as if he was the only patient she had that day and, as we are all too well aware, that’s never the case in a busy PICU. Josh was on a ventilator, had a J/G feeding tube that required 3 surgeries, a port that required 2 surgeries, a catheter and later received tracheotomy and he never gave up. He continued to smile as much as the tumor allowed him to do, day after day– and I credit Beth Ann and her staff at JSUMC.
Beth Ann even brought her children to the hospital to visit with Josh and he enjoyed those visits
. His eyes lit up the minute they came in the room. When we were discharged, Beth Ann checked on us often and even came to the house to visit. The day Josh passed away, I called Beth Ann who was off that day because I felt he was declining and before I could even get the words out of my mouth she was in her car and on her way to my house. When I decided it was time to call 911 she rode with us in the ambulance and alerted the hospital that Josh was in the end stages of his battle and we were on our way. As we gathered in a trauma room in the ER she held my husband’s and my hand as Josh was pronounced. She then escorted all of us back to the PICU to prepare Josh for his tumor harvest. I was allowed to help Beth Ann and the PICU staff bathe Josh and spend some time with him before he it was time to take Josh to the morgue for the harvest. I insisted that my husband, our oldest son Jason and myself accompany Josh to the morgue and Beth Ann was with us every step of the way, holding our hands.
Beth Ann left such an impression on our son and a everlasting impression on our family in what was our darkest hours, that we asked her to speak at Josh’s service. We chose 2 people to speak at Josh’s service, one was a life-long friend and the other was our new friend Beth Ann– and I know Josh would have approved. She would tell Josh at the end of every shift that she loves him to the moon and back—Pinky Swear. Unbeknown to Beth Ann, that quote was something I said to Josh every night of his life. The first night I heard her say that to Josh I got chills–Beth Ann McKeown is an exceptional nurse and person.
“Beth Ann, we traveled in the same circles for years but never met until Josh was admitted in to the PICU at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in respiratory distress and I truly believe that we were meant to meet when we did and not a moment sooner. I have searched the dictionary and thesaurus many times over and I just cant find the right words to describe you. I believe it’s because you are heaven sent. Never in a million years would I have expected my family to walk in these shoes, but for a reason, I have yet to understand, god chose us and he was instrumental in our paths crossing. You were with us in our darkest hours and you haven’t left our side….We can’t thank you enough! We will love you to the moon and back….Pinky swear….” Joshua’s family