I am nominating Ivelisse for the way she cared for my dad while he was in the hospital. My dad was suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer called hypopharyngeal cancer. He was transported from AH Orlando to AH Celebration and ultimately spent 18 days in the hospital where he underwent multiple procedures and surgeries to remove the tumor in his throat. During those 18 days in the hospital, we had some nice nurses, we had some alright nurses, and then there was Ivelisse.

From the moment she stepped into the room to receive report, she made sure my dad felt safe and comfortable in her care. She loved him and took care of him as if he were her own family member. She never dismissed any of my concerns; she took her time to address any questions he had about the medication he was taking and the feedings he was getting. She also helped him feel more confident by kindly empowering him to be more independent again. When I expressed my hesitation about leaving him in the hospital, she reassured me that she would watch over him and take care of him, even if I wasn't in the room with him. She called me several times a day, throughout the two days she cared for him, with updates so I wouldn't worry. She wanted to reassure me that he was in good hands. Having her as his nurse gave me the peace of mind to be able to stay home a couple of days and take care of my own little babies, knowing she was taking care of my dad. I will forever be grateful for the care and compassion she showed our family. She cared for my dad like she cared for her mom. May God bless her and her beautiful, caring spirit. If you are able to tell me the next time she will be on the unit, we’d like to send a token of our appreciation. Thank you.