June 2026 Honoree
Autumn Bostick, BSN, RN
My dad, a 62-year-old man with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, was admitted to Mayo for multiple issues. During his hospitalization, his renal function rapidly declined and was progressing toward dialysis. I flew in on emergency leave from Kansas, as I am a Registered Nurse in the U.S. Army, to be with him and my family during this admission. From the moment Autumn assumed his care, she showed exceptional compassion, clinical judgment, and advocacy. She built a relationship with my dad, while he was irritable and at times delirious, and was consistently attentive to both his physical and emotional needs. She anticipated his pain management needs, kept him comfortable through laboratory testing, treatments, and repositioning, and always treated him with dignity and respect.
What truly set Autumn apart occurred on my dad's final day in the hospital. His renal function declined to the point of requiring dialysis, and he made the decision to stop pursuing aggressive treatment and be discharged home on hospice care. Autumn supported him completely throughout this process. She listened to his wishes, respected his decisions, and became a strong advocate for both him and our family with the team. She communicated effectively with the interdisciplinary team to ensure my father's goals of care were honored. She proactively contacted providers regarding orders that no longer aligned with his wishes and coordinated with therapy services to prevent unnecessary visits after he had decided he no longer wanted to pursue treatment. Her actions spared my parents additional stress and allowed them to focus on spending meaningful time together.
Throughout the day, Autumn continued to provide comfort, reassurance, and emotional support not only to my dad but also to my mom as they navigated one of the most difficult decisions of their lives. She demonstrated the kind of nursing care I hope to provide as an RN to every patient I interact with, and I’m so grateful she cared for him. As a nurse, I understand the challenges of our profession and recognize exceptional nursing when I see it. I cannot say enough positive things about Autumn. During one of the hardest moments of my life, she provided comfort, dignity, advocacy, and peace. I will always be grateful for the care she gave my dad and the kindness she showed our family.
What truly set Autumn apart occurred on my dad's final day in the hospital. His renal function declined to the point of requiring dialysis, and he made the decision to stop pursuing aggressive treatment and be discharged home on hospice care. Autumn supported him completely throughout this process. She listened to his wishes, respected his decisions, and became a strong advocate for both him and our family with the team. She communicated effectively with the interdisciplinary team to ensure my father's goals of care were honored. She proactively contacted providers regarding orders that no longer aligned with his wishes and coordinated with therapy services to prevent unnecessary visits after he had decided he no longer wanted to pursue treatment. Her actions spared my parents additional stress and allowed them to focus on spending meaningful time together.
Throughout the day, Autumn continued to provide comfort, reassurance, and emotional support not only to my dad but also to my mom as they navigated one of the most difficult decisions of their lives. She demonstrated the kind of nursing care I hope to provide as an RN to every patient I interact with, and I’m so grateful she cared for him. As a nurse, I understand the challenges of our profession and recognize exceptional nursing when I see it. I cannot say enough positive things about Autumn. During one of the hardest moments of my life, she provided comfort, dignity, advocacy, and peace. I will always be grateful for the care she gave my dad and the kindness she showed our family.
Thank you, Autumn, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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