August 2026 Honoree
Ellen Garcia, RN
Our family was transferred to Southeast Health after our loved one suffered a fall that resulted in a brain bleed. Throughout our stay, we have been consistently impressed by the compassion and professionalism of the entire staff — but Ellen stands in a category of her own.
Our loved one had a very difficult night. What we witnessed from her that night was nothing short of remarkable. As his condition declined rapidly, Ellen remained a calm, steady, and compassionate presence for both him and our family.
She took the time to explain everything that was happening to his body, clearly and with great care. She never made us feel rushed or like a burden. She walked us through each change in his condition, every treatment she was providing, and the reasoning behind each decision — giving us understanding and dignity in one of the most frightening nights of our lives.
What moved us most was the quiet, thoughtful way Ellen balanced medical reality with human compassion, in a way that only comes from someone who is truly called to this work. She made sure we knew we could come to her at any moment, that we would never be a bother. In the middle of a crisis, those words meant everything.
The staff at this facility have been wonderful, and we are grateful for every person who has cared for our loved one. But Ellen was a true light in our darkest hour. She is exactly the kind of nurse that patients and families need when navigating such difficult times — steady, knowledgeable, and kind. She deserves every recognition this facility has to offer. We are so grateful she was there that night.
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We were in the Neurocritical Care Unit with a family member who had been moved to comfort care after a fall. The care we’ve received has been great, across the board. However, our loved one had a very difficult time on Ellen’s shift, and she was absolutely phenomenal.
Ellen was always professional, as she explained the things that were happening to our loved one’s body as he nears the end of his life. The care with which she did this was above and beyond. She remained calm as she walked us through everything that was going on with our loved one, the treatment she was giving him, and why she was doing it.
She did things that she knew wouldn’t make a difference (suction his mouth when the issue was in his lungs) because, I assume, she knew it was comforting to us. She did all that while being so calm and with so much care, talking us through each step. She made sure we knew to come get her if we were concerned, that we’d never be a bother to her.
I cannot express enough how wonderful we think Ellen is; she is most definitely supposed to be a nurse, helping patients and family members navigate some of the most difficult times in their lives. I cannot tell you how much of a difference Ellen made in our difficult night; she was an absolute blessing in our time of need.
All of the staff we have come into contact with during our stay have been so amazing, but I can tell you that no one has been as wonderful as Ellen, and that is saying something because we hold the whole team in high regard. She was a true light in our difficult hour, and she deserves all the awards!
Our loved one had a very difficult night. What we witnessed from her that night was nothing short of remarkable. As his condition declined rapidly, Ellen remained a calm, steady, and compassionate presence for both him and our family.
She took the time to explain everything that was happening to his body, clearly and with great care. She never made us feel rushed or like a burden. She walked us through each change in his condition, every treatment she was providing, and the reasoning behind each decision — giving us understanding and dignity in one of the most frightening nights of our lives.
What moved us most was the quiet, thoughtful way Ellen balanced medical reality with human compassion, in a way that only comes from someone who is truly called to this work. She made sure we knew we could come to her at any moment, that we would never be a bother. In the middle of a crisis, those words meant everything.
The staff at this facility have been wonderful, and we are grateful for every person who has cared for our loved one. But Ellen was a true light in our darkest hour. She is exactly the kind of nurse that patients and families need when navigating such difficult times — steady, knowledgeable, and kind. She deserves every recognition this facility has to offer. We are so grateful she was there that night.
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We were in the Neurocritical Care Unit with a family member who had been moved to comfort care after a fall. The care we’ve received has been great, across the board. However, our loved one had a very difficult time on Ellen’s shift, and she was absolutely phenomenal.
Ellen was always professional, as she explained the things that were happening to our loved one’s body as he nears the end of his life. The care with which she did this was above and beyond. She remained calm as she walked us through everything that was going on with our loved one, the treatment she was giving him, and why she was doing it.
She did things that she knew wouldn’t make a difference (suction his mouth when the issue was in his lungs) because, I assume, she knew it was comforting to us. She did all that while being so calm and with so much care, talking us through each step. She made sure we knew to come get her if we were concerned, that we’d never be a bother to her.
I cannot express enough how wonderful we think Ellen is; she is most definitely supposed to be a nurse, helping patients and family members navigate some of the most difficult times in their lives. I cannot tell you how much of a difference Ellen made in our difficult night; she was an absolute blessing in our time of need.
All of the staff we have come into contact with during our stay have been so amazing, but I can tell you that no one has been as wonderful as Ellen, and that is saying something because we hold the whole team in high regard. She was a true light in our difficult hour, and she deserves all the awards!
Thank you, Ellen, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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