Wai Lee Gee at her 91st birthday party with Juliette Collazo, RN.
An elderly patient gained precious time with her family due to empathetic and skilled care at Mount Sinai West.
When Wai Lee Gee arrived on 9A at Mount Sinai West in 2017, she was severely ill. She was diagnosed with metabolic encephalopathy, and as a result, she did not speak, barely moved, and showed no signs of comprehension.
Juliette Collazo, RN, was her primary nurse and became close with her large and close-knit family, who were a constant presence on the unit. Juliette and the rest of the care team called the patient her Chinese nickname, Mah, as her family did, and they were determined to see her recover.
There were serious setbacks along the road, but after an extended stay on 9A, Wai Lee regained much of her ability to walk and talk and was able to return home to her family. This past spring, Juliette celebrated Mah’s 91st birthday with her and her family in Chinatown. Mah thanked Juliette and the team, and her children expressed tearful appreciation for getting more time with their mother.
Although Mah recently passed away, she is not far from Juliette’s thoughts. “This experience touched my life,” Juliette says. “I am so proud to be at Mount Sinai West.”