March 2026 Honoree
Gary Hernandez, RN
My 88-year-old mom was found unresponsive in her assisted living apartment on the evening of Monday. No breathing and no pulse. As a result of CPR efforts in her apartment and in the ambulance en route to the hospital, she was revived.
The CT scan results showed serious double pneumonia that had developed very quickly. Lab work showed abnormal liver function, which probably accounted for the jaundice. She also had many broken ribs from the CPR/chest compressions. The outlook was grim.
With compassionate care and guidance from the E.R. doctors and the doctor in the ICU, along with knowing mom’s intentions from her Advance Directive, the family advised the medical team to remove the ventilator the following morning, Tuesday.
Gary was the ICU nurse who repeatedly went above and beyond in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care to mom and equally compassionate care for us, the family. He removed the ventilator, transitioned her to in-patient hospice care, administered medications for pain relief and relaxation, and helped move her from the ICU bed to a regular hospital bed and room that evening. He was so respectful to mom by kindly explaining to her each thing he was about to do, whether it was administering medicine through the IV or adjusting her pillow.
The next morning, in mom’s 5th floor hospital room, who walks in to take care of mom? Gary! He explained that ICU was not very full that day, so ICU nurses were assigned to other areas of the hospital. He was assigned to care for Mom. What a relief and blessing to have someone familiar with mom and her condition to care for her in such difficult, critical hours.
Again on this day, he took time to care for us by visiting with us about our lives and sharing a bit about his life as a nurse, his family, and his exercise routine and the positive impact it’s had on his life. He was very present for us and very in tune with our needs as we sat at mom’s bedside.
My husband was away from mom’s room to take a break when she quickly began showing signs that death was near. Gary was by mom’s side administering pain and relaxation medicine and support for her. Gary was also by my side and supported me as I fell on my knees at mom’s bedside as she was taking her last breaths. Mom left this world that Wednesday afternoon.
Gary stayed with me to offer comfort and support while we waited for my husband to return to mom’s room. Gary had an enormously positive impact on mom’s quality of life in her final two days and an equally profound impact on us during that difficult journey of watching a beloved mother pass away.
Gary set the bar on providing compassionate, patient-centered care and family-centered care.
The CT scan results showed serious double pneumonia that had developed very quickly. Lab work showed abnormal liver function, which probably accounted for the jaundice. She also had many broken ribs from the CPR/chest compressions. The outlook was grim.
With compassionate care and guidance from the E.R. doctors and the doctor in the ICU, along with knowing mom’s intentions from her Advance Directive, the family advised the medical team to remove the ventilator the following morning, Tuesday.
Gary was the ICU nurse who repeatedly went above and beyond in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care to mom and equally compassionate care for us, the family. He removed the ventilator, transitioned her to in-patient hospice care, administered medications for pain relief and relaxation, and helped move her from the ICU bed to a regular hospital bed and room that evening. He was so respectful to mom by kindly explaining to her each thing he was about to do, whether it was administering medicine through the IV or adjusting her pillow.
The next morning, in mom’s 5th floor hospital room, who walks in to take care of mom? Gary! He explained that ICU was not very full that day, so ICU nurses were assigned to other areas of the hospital. He was assigned to care for Mom. What a relief and blessing to have someone familiar with mom and her condition to care for her in such difficult, critical hours.
Again on this day, he took time to care for us by visiting with us about our lives and sharing a bit about his life as a nurse, his family, and his exercise routine and the positive impact it’s had on his life. He was very present for us and very in tune with our needs as we sat at mom’s bedside.
My husband was away from mom’s room to take a break when she quickly began showing signs that death was near. Gary was by mom’s side administering pain and relaxation medicine and support for her. Gary was also by my side and supported me as I fell on my knees at mom’s bedside as she was taking her last breaths. Mom left this world that Wednesday afternoon.
Gary stayed with me to offer comfort and support while we waited for my husband to return to mom’s room. Gary had an enormously positive impact on mom’s quality of life in her final two days and an equally profound impact on us during that difficult journey of watching a beloved mother pass away.
Gary set the bar on providing compassionate, patient-centered care and family-centered care.
Thank you, Gary, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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