Sometime in early July, Ashley was break nurse on 1South.  While covering her peer for lunch, she received a report that one of the patients she was going to cover was on Comfort Care and needed an evaluation as he was showing signs of discomfort. She prioritized seeing this patient. When she walked in, she noticed that the patient was in the active dying process. His breathing was irregular and labored with oxygen saturation showing 60%. His heart rate was fluctuating with noticeable signs of distress. At his side were his two young adult children, who appeared helpless and frightened at what they were seeing. Ashley knew in an instant that they needed support and that she would be spending time with them. After she introduced herself, she walked them through what she was doing for their father. She spent the time to explain to them what her assessment was and together they chose to provide the patient a bolus of the pain medication to provide comfort. She sat on the patient’s bed and held the patient's hand as she answered all of the questions both children had. They talked with her about him and shared memories. Ten minutes into their conversation, she noticed the patient's breathing slowing down and becoming irregular. With tears streaming down his daughter’s face, his daughter began singing a song by Crystal Shawanda titled "You Can Let Go." The ballad told the story of a little girl and her father as she grew up. The final verse finds the daughter singing to her father as he lies dying in a hospital room. 

It was killin' me to see
The strongest man I ever knew
Wastin' away to nothin'
In that hospital room
"You know he's only hangin' on for you"
That's what the night nurse said
My voice and heart were breakin'
As I crawled up in his bed
And said
You can let go now, daddy
You can let go
Your little girl is ready
To do this on my own
It's gonna be a little bit scary
But I want you to know
I'll be ok now, daddy
You can let go

During this song, Ashley watched the vital signs machine as his oxygen climbed to the 80's and his heart rate into the 90's. And as the song came to a soft end, she watched as his heart rate slowed and oxygen dropped. Seconds after she finished singing, he drew his last breath. 

Ashley shared this beautiful moment with this patient’s children. They had tears streaming down their faces as she told the family how blessed and grateful and fortunate she was to have shared and witnessed something so beautiful and sacred. Ashley made that moment special for the patient and his children and in turn created a connection and experience she will carry with her forever.