One last time: Gundersen team reunites mother, daughter

Janet Trujillo was dying. She had glioblastoma and was given three months to live. The 70-year-old had one wish in her remaining days – to see her daughter one last time.  

In 2022, Janet and her husband Joe moved across the country to La Crosse so they could help care for Janet’s 93-year-old mother. They anticipated making quarterly trips back to Colorado to visit their daughter, Sheri. 

Sheri, 45, was born with Angelman syndrome, a rare, complex genetic disorder that causes developmental disabilities. Sheri, who has the functionality of a toddler, also has a severe seizure disorder and scoliosis. 

Janet wasn’t well enough to travel to Colorado where her daughter lives with caregivers, and Sheri’s caregivers questioned whether they could make the trip to Wisconsin, as Sheri had never traveled that far. 

‘I’m going to see my daughter again’ 

Kathryn Thompson, the Gundersen resident chaplain caring for Janet, knew distance wouldn’t keep this mother and daughter apart. 

“She had this look in her eyes. I’m a parent, and I know that fierce ‘mama bear’ look. Janet said, ‘I’m going to see my daughter again.’”  

Janet was transferred from the Gundersen La Crosse Hospital Neurology unit to the Heritage Unit as she waited to be approved for hospice care. All the while, she had hope she would be reunited with her daughter.  

“Janet just wanted to hold her daughter one more time,” Kathryn says. “That was their favorite thing. She just wanted to snuggle on the couch one last time.” 

But even if Sheri could make the trip to Wisconsin, for her to come into a hospital or hospital room would be next to impossible. Growing up, because of her seizures and scoliosis, Sheri had traumatizing experiences in hospitals. Her caregivers worried Sheri wouldn’t be able to handle seeing her mom in a hospital bed. 

“This is where Gundersen really shined,” Sharon Lukert, Janet’s sister, says. Sharon handled the logistics of getting Sheri, and her caregivers, to the Midwest.   

A team assembles 

Melissa Sawyer, clinical nurse leader on the Heritage Unit, united a team to transform an area of the hospital to not look like a hospital.  

Gundersen’s Patient Experience team found a harpist to play music, while Gundersen’s Gift Shop welcomed Janet and gifted her items and special mementos to deliver to family. And the Foodservice team provided a special meal. 

“What some view as extraordinary, we view as ordinary,” says Barb Watunya, clinical manager in Foodservice. “It was truly our pleasure to be included in such a meaningful event for Janet and her family.”

When Eric Johnston, a supervisor in Gundersen Facility Operations, got the call that a couch was needed, he didn’t hesitate to make that happen. 

“These creature comforts are things so many of us take for granted until you’re no longer in the position to enjoy them,” Eric says. “The loss of those small, intimate, everyday family moments is almost worse than any diagnosis. It’s heartbreaking to realize that, for some people, the last time they were with their family was truly the last time – and they didn’t even know it.” 

Eric adds, “I hopefully speak for everyone at Gundersen when I say we will absolutely move mountains for our patients. They are why we’re here. They deserve our utmost respect and highest level of care and empathy.” 

‘I would do this work 10 times over’ 

Melissa said she was called to become a nurse later in her life after watching nurses care for her own grandmother following a neurological disorder diagnosis. 

“I watched nurses take care of her and I thought, I want to take care of someone’s grandma like that.” Melissa adds, “Hospice and palliative patients are very special. I would do this work 10 times over. I really love what I do.” 

When it came time for this miraculous visit, Janet’s husband and daughter, along with caregivers Rick and Robin Danforth, were guided to a special, comfortable space. Because of the team’s efforts, Sheri was able to focus only on her mother – and not the fact that she was inside a hospital – and say the one word she’s ever been able to say.  

“Mama.”  

Mother and daughter were finally reunited. They snuggled on the couch. They hid under blankets – one of Sheri’s favorite games. They ate delicious food. 

As the visit ended, Sheri simply waved good-bye. But Janet knew this would be the last time she would see her daughter. With the support of her sister, Janet was able to stand up out of her wheelchair and hug her daughter – one last time.  

“For the remaining time Janet was with us, the joy of seeing Sheri never left her,” says Kathryn. “All I saw were signs of love and joy that she was able to spend that time with her daughter.” 

‘Look what we can do when we all come together’ 

Shortly after their visit, Janet was transferred to a nursing home, where she entered terminal hospice. She passed away about a month later.  

As Melissa continues her work on the Heritage Unit, her purpose and mission remain the same: To provide care and comfort like she was providing it to her own family.  

“Everyone dropped what they were doing and went above and beyond, no questions asked,” Melissa says. “Look what we can do when we all come together. To call these people my coworkers is a gift.” 

Sheri’s caregiver, Rick, provide an update saying, “Sheri has lots of family pictures on the walls of her bedroom. We wave good morning and good night to them daily. She has adjusted well – and we believe that’s because of the great care Gundersen gave to her and all of us. We are so appreciative for all that was done for us.”