Most of society perceives nursing as a profession of trust and human compassion. Believe me when I tell you about my grandpa's nurse, who should be the poster child for nursing.
Elena would take the time not only for my grandpa but also for our family. She made him feel like a person again. She took the time to talk and connect with him. She would joke around and elicit a smile by engaging with him. My grandpa has been in and out of the hospital for the last few years. It has been hard for him to lose his independence. Since being hospitalized, his illness has left him with severe depression. Our family watched helplessly as his internal light slowly dimmed and he became withdrawn from society. Elena's compassion for the human spirit brought out the best in my grandpa. Every time she would walk through the door you would start to see a light in my grandpa's eyes brighten!
Elena was our earth angel who made my grandpa's end of life struggles tolerable. She truly made him feel again. Elena's personality matched his and made him feel like the jokester he used to be in his younger days. Unfortunately, my grandpa had to be moved to hospice, but this did not stop Elena from visiting as he worsened and rarely was coherent. Elena's comfort and knowledge got us through the grieving process. Elena took the time to explain what was going on, which helped us through my grandpa's dying process. I cannot thank her enough for her human capacity and her love for nursing. Thank you, Elena, for your compassion, commitment, beautiful smile, and your bright cheerful disposition.