alejandra cariaga, BSN, RN

I am the mother of a 30-year-old daughter diagnosed with breast cancer. My daughter and I have been through a lot. We met Alex in SICU during recovery from 12-hour reconstruction surgery. I have been strong for my daughter's sake but could not hold back tears as I quietly observed the compassion, sympathy, and professionalism that Alex gifted my daughter during her stay in SICU. I sat in a chair for 2 days, day and night. One night I watched Alex with a handheld flashlight. My daughter required hourly monitoring day and night, but Alex wanted her to be able to sleep if at all possible. During waking hours, she never left the room without asking both my daughter and I if we needed anything.