A Day of Firsts: Honoring Pat’s Wish with Compassion and Connection
During what began as a routine hospice visit, Chelsey Olson, a Compassus Hospice Case Manager in Galesburg, IL, shared a lighthearted conversation with her patient, Patricia “Pat” Whitman. The two quickly bonded over their mutual love for manicures and pedicures—a simple joy that sparked something bigger.
For Chelsey, that moment wasn’t just small talk. It was an opportunity to do something meaningful.
With the help of Compassus Chaplain Jordan Knight and the local Greatest Wish Committee, Chelsey set out to make Pat’s wish come true. Thanks to the generosity of Lucky’s in Galesburg, Pat enjoyed her very first professional manicure and pedicure at 94 years old—plus her first Uber ride!
Pat’s family, who live in Chicago and Hawaii, were touched to see her treated with such care and joy.
At Compassus, we believe compassion is more than clinical care—it’s about listening closely, creating moments of joy, and honoring the lives of those we serve. For Pat, that meant more than just polished nails—it meant being seen, celebrated, and loved.
At Compassus, our value is in the compassion and expertise of our teams, which act as an extension of patients’ existing care teams. We believe everyone who interacts with us should experience our individualized Care for who I am philosophy, from the care services we provide to patients and families to how we interact with our partners and one another.
