敬愛的大德團隊：
家父俞春炎先生在八月一日進住大德病房，並於八月十六日病逝，在這段期間感恩大德團隊在他人生最艱困的期間對他的扶持，因為您們，他在很有尊嚴的情形下走完人生路。
本人因僑居美國，自從家父六月初被診斷出為癌症末期後，告假返台陪伴他一個月，最初在某大醫院住院三週治療，看見父親每日任由醫護人員不斷添加白蛋白、營養液…吞下無數難以吞咽的藥丸，烏青的雙手還得忍受因找不到血管不斷被扎針之苦，明知這是無效的治療法，卻毫無對策。心疼父親不但要身受病痛的折磨，還得時時當醫療人員的實驗品，毫無尊嚴可言，讓同樣受過癌症之苦的我憂心不已。記得當返美歸期已至的當日，父親把我叫到床前，要我和兄姐商量，當他可以出院居家療養後，一定還會有再住進醫院的情形，是否該考慮轉至其他醫院？一向很沉穩的父親已對這所大醫院喪失了病人該有的信賴感，我無言以對，只能帶著淚水踏上歸途。
雖然人在美國卻心繫台灣生病的父親，每日只能和家人用視訊暸解狀況，父親出院居家療養後，病情每下愈況，寢食難安，家人卻束手無策憂慮不已。因緣際會在趙可式博士的幫助下得知臺北榮總具有專業的大德安寧團隊，父親在林明慧醫師的診療下進住大德安寧病房。父親在視訊中和我說，他在您們的照顧下終於能睡個好覺，洗個舒暢的澡，不用再每天害怕面臨找不到插針的血管…，看著他娓娓道來，雖然深知這樣的好景不可能延續不斷，我還是為他流下了高興的淚水，因為至少父親在大德安寧團隊的照護下能夠有尊嚴的活著。
該面對的還是會來的，在林醫師的示意下，母親告訴我父親曾度過一次危險期，為了害怕再錯失父親人生中多次的重要活動，我再次告假帶著一對女兒返臺陪伴，感謝老天爺給了我們母女三人多天陪伴父親的時間。期間女兒們每天到醫院陪伴外公，為他老人家按摩拍背話家常，因為貼心也逗樂他老人家。現就讀美國普林斯頓大學的女兒一向行事敏銳，第一天回家就對我說：「大德安寧病房的工作人員看來都很忙碌，為什麼每個人卻能隨時面帶笑容，對病人好有耐心啊！很不同於其他醫院，怪不得外公對我們說下輩子還要他們當朋友！」
我們母女有幸，雖然照顧父親的時日不多，可是父親將這人生的重要一刻讓我母女三人陪伴在側，安詳走完他人生的最後一程，也讓孩子們看到醫護人員對往生者的尊重，從擦身更衣到對家屬的撫慰皆從容不迫，毫不在乎延誤下班時間，處處讓在美國生長的姊妹倆留下深刻難忘的印象。
辦完父親的身後事，晚上一抵家門，準備先行返美的孩子們拿出準備好的感謝信函，要我代為郵寄給大德安寧病房，謝謝您們在這期間對外公的照顧，您們不只留給外公，甚至我們整個家族永難忘懷的人生經歷，就如孩子所寫的對大德安寧病房一切的感激是無法用筆墨形容。
她倆對我說每次看到大德安寧病房的醫護人員都好忙碌，美娟阿姨、曹阿姨過了下班時間都還沒走，其他我們沒碰到的護士阿姨一定也是這樣。有一天護士阿姨該換外公的點滴了，可是她們正忙於一位剛往生的病人，欠缺人手的情況下只能先將點滴給關了。那天外公走時，醫護人員也都花了好長的時間陪伴我們處理外公的相關事宜，或許就有其他的病人會因此受到影響，當女兒們知道大德病房的安寧照護宗旨後，都認為這樣好的宗旨為什麼不增加人手，大力推廣讓更多需要受照護的人受惠？她倆在小學時就陪我走過手術化療之路，我想孩子對「癌症」二字的心歷路程比許多人深，她們遞給我暑假打工賺的零用金，要我代為轉捐大德基金會聊表心意時，我懂！孩子看到了她們該盡心力之處，那怕是微薄之力也是一種助力吧！
在此還要特別謝謝我至今還不知大名的心理師，謝謝您在父親離去的前一天下午，因為您的導引讓父親知道子女們是多麼深愛著他，他那靦腆的笑容和那含淚的眼角這一幕至今令我難忘。更謝謝大德團隊整個晚上陪伴著因悲傷過度而情緒失控的家母。再次的謝謝您們，永難忘懷您們的恩惠！
作者的兩位女兒給大德安寧團隊的一封信
August 2013
Dear Taipei VGH Family:
Words can’t express how thankful we are for the loving care you provided our grandpa during the hardest time ofhis life. The entire staff was so patient and supportive, not only to Grandpa but to Grandma and our entire family. It’s been hard for us to see and hear about his suffering from so far away, but knowing that he was in good hands made it easier. We know that you became a second family to Grandpa, and we will always consider you a second family as well.
This was the first grandparent that we lost and as hard as it is he lived a long and happy life. We are thankful that he was only in pain for a little while- and even then, he was always surrounded by family, friends nurses and doctors. More than medicine, 1 think the most important part of my grandpa’s treatment was the kindness he received from the staff. The nurses were attentive to all his needs often staying past their shifts and visiting him on their days off. However because their responsibilities seemed extremely tiring, we think it would be beneficial to all if the hospital were to consider increasing the staff.
My grandpa once told us that he would love for the staff to be his friends again in his next life. We will especially never forget everyone’s gentle care the day he passed away. We’re glad that so many of you were at his side when he died. Your presence made a huge difference in his (and our) lives. We hope you continue to touch other patients and families as you have touched us. We will be forever grateful to you.
Thank you and all the best
Catherine & Karen Ku