At 16 years old, Lily Mellott, LPN, didn’t plan to become a nurse.
When her grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the disease had already progressed to its final stages. Given only weeks to live, she entered hospice care. Lily, who lived with her grandmother, suddenly found herself stepping into the role of caregiver.
For the final week of her grandmother's life, Lily slept in a chair beside her bed. When her grandmother passed away, a hospice nurse invited Lily to participate in her grandmother's final bath and gently explained every step of the process.
In the weeks that followed, Lily found herself reflecting on her loss.
"I missed my grandma so much, but I also missed caring for someone. I realized I never felt more like myself than when I was caring for someone else."
A month later, she became a CNA. Today, she is an LPN and just two classes away from becoming an RN.
Lily’s nursing philosophy centers on bringing her authentic self into patient care.
“It's important to show up and be authentically you. Every patient is unique, so they need a unique nurse. A really beautiful thing about healthcare teams is that we all bring a unique element to the table.”
What unique element does Lily bring to the table? Her ability to braid hair.
One of Lily’s patients recently underwent an arm amputation and was struggling to come to terms with the loss of her independence. One morning, she looked at Lily and said through tears, "You always have your hair done. It always looks so nice. I'm never going to be able to do that again."
A lifelong ambidextrous hair-braiding skill had recently made Lily an internet sensation, so she decided to teach her patient a one-handed braiding technique, helping her regain confidence.
Another patient arrived at the hospital having a panic attack. She had matted hair and couldn’t catch her breath or explain what was wrong. Lily began combing and braiding her hair, allowing her patient to calm down and better communicate.
The braid represented independence for one patient. For another, it provided comfort, dignity, and a sense of calm during a moment of crisis.
"Nursing care really is because we care," Lily said. "It's not just the tasks that we do every day. We care for people physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally in the best way that we can."
How has a nurse impacted your life? Share your story at ThePowerOfNurses.org.
