To the editor:

We would like everyone to know the gratitude, appreciation and admiration we have for the staff of Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

We have recently returned from Lawrence, where we attended the final week of the life of our sister-in-law.

She was in the ICU at LMH and later moved to the Palliative Care Unit until her death.

While in the ICU we were very impressed with the quality of care provided by the medical, nursing and auxiliary staff. Not only were they professional but also sensitive, considerate and caring. Chaplain Angela aided us during this period.

The Palliative Care Unit as a whole, and Dorothy Kurtz and Terrie Sykes in particular, enabled us to work through and handle the final days in a loving and dignified manner. Their availability at all hours, their warmth, tenderness and sensitivity came through in their every act.

Their knowledge of community resources and willingness to help us contact these resources relieved much of our tension.

Their openness in addressing our questions and support when our raw emotions bubbled over kept us on an even keel as we navigated the rough waters.

Lawrence can be extremely proud of LMH and feel secure that those who care for you care not only for your physical, but also for your emotional and mental well being.

We want to publicly thank the LMH staff for the care you gave our Lawrence family and their extended family in our hour of need.

Herb L. and Ruth K. Forer,

Encino, Calif.