Thinking back over the care our mother received from St. Bernards Medical Center one caregiver stands out among them all. Mom was admitted through the Emergency Department and during her stay, underwent several tests. Many healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, and nurses’ aides took great care of Mom (and each of her daughters as we took turns staying with her). Her heart stopped and she had to be resuscitated. She was put on a ventilator. Fortunately, there were no broken bones or any internal brain injuries. Over the next five days, many decisions concerning Mom’s care had to be made by our family. After several days of no improvement, the decision of comfort care was presented to our family. The following week, my mom’s soul left her earthly body for her eternal home with her savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

Throughout the entire stay, one nurse stood out among all the others. She answered all our questions about medications and procedures with intelligence and in a way that we could understand. Her confident and calm demeanor was reassuring. She was always close by but never intrusive. She always had the time to listen to our concerns and talk about our relationships. We knew we could trust her. Her eyes held a sense of maturity not found in many 24-year-old women. She was truly an angel of mercy. She certainly personified the Florence Nightingale oath of “devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.” Thank you St. Bernards for placing Caragan Woods, RN as the nurse for our mom in the ICU.