As a nurse of over 30 years, I was so taken with the extraordinary skills and grace that Allison holds at such a young age. Her apparent professionalism, and demeanor of care and kindness, fostered a special relationship with our family from the moment she introduced herself.

Throughout our tender and emotional stay at Piedmont Hospital, Allison orchestrated the most comprehensive and comforting care to our entire family and to my father until his passing. Teamwork was displayed in Allison’s continuous coordination of care and notifications of the interdisciplinary services. It seemed as if only minutes passed between my mother’s requests to speak to a priest or the cardiologist that they arrived to the room. Allison notified appropriate team members not only upon request, but when she personally sensed a need. When she noted new tears on my mother’s cheeks, a faith support was called. When mom had questions regarding dad’s status, physicians appeared. In just two of her shifts, Allison coordinated 2 visits from the from the priests both administering Last Rites, three chaplains, 5 physicians, respiratory therapy, case managers, and a hospice representative. Whe we requeted to delay the scheduled hospice transfer “until morning” due to dad’s fragile status, Allison was our advocate and facilitated the change of transfer time. My father passed before the original scheduled transfer time. We are most grateful to Allison that we did not lose him during a transfer. Among Allison’s team was our Family. Allison made us all feel as important, if not more so, in my father’s care, as the other staff members.

Allison demonstrated compassion with every visit and task done. Her tender hugs and patient listening skills, especially to my mother, eased so much of the emotional confusion and looming sorrow.

Allison cared for my father, who was mostly in a semi-comatose state with the utmost dignity. She always addressed him by his first name and included him in the information and explaining tasks to be done ( as his face remained unchanged with a fixed stare). She diligently continued comfort measures such as mouth care, turning, positioning extremities, suctioning, adjusting pain medicine as she noted increased labor of respirations, and simply touching his arm while she addressed us. Extraordinary.

Thje most striking gift I will remember is how astute Allison was to my father’s nearing time. She was sensitive to our privacy, continuously observing the monitors and dad’s assessment from the window. Her knowledge and keen perceptions allowed her to know and act so appropriately just moments before my father passed. As the numbers on the monitors where changing and dad’s breaths were becoming more shallow, Allison so gently entered, turned off the drip and the monitor, dimmed the lights and closed the door. My mother never even noticed. It was like a beautiful ballet that allowed us the most peaceful and private last moments with our father. As I looked up from my father’s bed, my eyes saw Allison through the window. She was already on the phone and with staff coordinating the continued care needed at this step. Her actions were all done with such grace and tenderness, yet clinically she remained timely and appropriate.

Upon leaving the hospital, Allison gave us each hugs- I don’t believe my mother wanted to ever let her go as she became her “Rock”. With my hug I told Allison that she is a living testimony that, “People can fall in love with a stranger in just a day.” She has become extended family in our hearts. The extraordinary beauty of Allison is that she possesses, with equal strength, the pillars of Knowledge, Integrity, Compassion, Service and Teamwork. She embodies the Profession of Nursing.

With the deepest gratitude,

A daughter of a patient in IMCU