Brynn Dahlby 2, RN

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude and admiration for the exceptional care one of your ICU nurses, Brynn, provided to my mother during her recent admission. My mother has advanced Alzheimer's disease and was awaiting emergent placement into a nursing facility, as she was no longer safe at home. This was an incredibly vulnerable and emotional time for our family, and throughout it, Brynn consistently demonstrated extraordinary compassion, patience, and professionalism.

Brynn treated my mother not simply as a patient, but as a person – someone deserving of dignity, respect, and genuine human connection. Her presence brought comfort not only to my mother but to our entire family. While the clinical care my mom received was excellent, what truly stood out was the compassion Brynn extended to us as caregivers navigating an impossibly difficult transition.

Later that night, Brynn reached out to ask if my mom liked music. I shared that music had always been very meaningful to her. Brynn explained how music can be soothing for individuals with Alzheimer's, and we talked about the genres and specific songs my mom loved. She even wrote them down for all the other nurses who would be caring for her and placed them on the whiteboard. This now hangs on her board in her room at her memory care facility. Knowing that Brynn took the time to learn this - and that she herself shared a love of music – meant more than I can adequately express. She even shared that when patients are restless, she will sometimes sing to them. I was truly blown away by this level of care and humanity, especially understanding how powerfully music can activate and comfort the brain.

What people often don’t talk about is how incredibly painful and overwhelming it is to decide to place your mother into a care facility. The emotions, guilt, fear, and grief are immense. My mom is an incredible mother, and all I wanted was for her to be loved and cared for during this stage of her life. Brynn gave her that - and she gave our family peace – in ways that go far beyond what words can capture.

All of the nurses who cared for my mother were wonderful, and I am deeply grateful to your entire ICU team. That said, Brynn has a true gift. Please recognize her and cherish her. I have worked in Human Resources for 13 years, and I can confidently say that the skills Brynn possesses cannot be taught. They go beyond training or education – they are rooted in character, empathy, and compassion. Please find a way to use this in staff training. In today’s healthcare environment, those qualities can sometimes be hard to find, and Brynn embodies them fully.