Madigan provided lifelong care for family

By Madigan Army Medical CenterAugust 11, 2015

Madigan provided lifelong care for family
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Madigan provided lifelong care for family
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Madigan provided lifelong care for family
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, WASH. -- The staff at Madigan Army Medical Center first started taking care of the McLauchlan family 64 years ago. In 1951, their son David needed care for polio, so the family uprooted from the Panama Canal Zone to Madigan at then-Fort Lewis, Wash. Throughout the career of 1st Sgt. David Russell McLauchlan, a combat engineer for the Army, the family kept on returning to Fort Lewis because they needed to be stationed near medical centers for David's care. The rest of the family was cared for by Madigan as outpatients and inpatients over the years.

Most recently, the family's mother, Dorothy McLauchlan, passed away at Madigan in February after a long stay as an inpatient battling acute myeloid leukemia.

"We have always received the highest quality of care at Madigan," said daughter Deidra McLauchlan. "The care (was) provided by all medical and nonmedical staff with a compassionate, respectful attitude and genuine kindness. We want to say how proud we are of Madigan and our history with it and the numerous staff through the years."

Dorothy was a four-time cancer survivor who was diagnosed with AML in June 2014. She was cared for by the hematology/oncology staff, the caregivers of the medical/surgical unit and the intensive care unit. They made a point to check in on Dorothy more often when they realized that she wouldn't ask for help herself.

Deidra also thanked the chaplain staff for providing prayer, spiritual counseling, and anointment to Dorothy. During her final days they sang hymns with her and later to her, and provided spiritual counseling to her family as well, serving "higher authority with grace."

The McLauchlans came to Madigan once more this spring to remember their mother at the hospital's Service of Remembrance.

"It allowed us to mourn and celebrate each life of our military family members who passed. We grew up being taught military families take care of each other in times of need, trouble and celebration as a family. This was such an example," said Deidra.