Shirley Gilford Shares Gratitude for her Husband’s Care at Bailey-Boushay House
Donor generosity supports client care
In October 2023, Shirley Gilford and her husband, Lloyd would have been married 52 years. Sadly, Lloyd passed away in 2004 from non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Lloyd spent his last week of life at Bailey-Boushay House. Although 18 years have gone by, Shirley continues to live with gratitude for the quality medical care and the gentle kindness he received.
"Allowing someone to care for your family member, especially in their time of greatest need is one of the most vulnerable places you can be," Shirley says. "I’ve been supporting Bailey-Boushay House ever since."
As a career nurse for the Seattle School District, Shirley knew the effort it takes to fully give herself to a patient. She loved being the comfort a child needed when they were sick or injured at school, away from their parents.
"A nurse’s role is much more than medical care. Part of our job is to treat patients with humanity and compassion, which helps take away as much fear as possible," she says. "Bailey-Boushay gives the medical care and the warmth people need."
When Lloyd’s care required more than what Shirley could do at home, his oncology team and a social worker helped her find BBH.
"My husband was a Boeing engineer and had a very engineer personality. He was meticulous about everything, including the way he received care. Lloyd’s trust was earned, not given," Shirley says. "But the Bailey-Boushay team earned his trust immediately and that just shows how much they listen to each patient’s needs."
Reflecting on her years of giving, Shirley thinks about how important it is for the community to sustain Bailey-Boushay House. She’s humbled by the idea that many gifts made it possible for Lloyd to have the support he needed and Shirley hopes she can ensure that for others through her giving.
"I want my gifts to be transformed into the same support we had," Shirley says. "I will keep giving because I know that every day a family member like me is grateful for this place."
For more than 30 years, donor support has allowed Bailey-Boushay House to maintain the highest level of care for every patient.
