JiunYing Liang (Jean) was my nurse whenever I was admitted to UT Southwestern Hospital in Dallas, Texas. While the days I spent in the hospital were difficult. It was my first hospital stay, and I was scared and in pain. Jean was a loving and compassionate presence with a signature warmth that I have never encountered and will never forget.

Jean was my first exposure to inpatient nursing, and she set the standard impossibly high. She was very clear and confident in communicating my care plan to me, and I always felt comfortable in her hands because she had my care under control. Jean coordinated between doctors from several departments who were part of my case, and did so seemingly effortlessly, though I know that everything about Jean is incredibly intentional.

When Jean could tell that I was getting restless from being in the hospital, she would take me on a walk around the unit, pausing by the great windows in the waiting area so I could watch the airplanes from a nearby airport take off, and giving me a “tour” of Dallas, including the different architectural sights and the new buildings that are up-and-coming around the hospital’s campus. While it may have been a routine patient walk for her, it was a moment that I cherished. An otherwise mundane moment was made just the opposite by her warmth and intentionality - Jean’s specialty.

I want to thank Jean for being my first impression and lasting example of what compassionate, intentional, and loving nursing looks like. I think that the world would look different if we each carried a piece of Jean with us as we go forward, treating every little moment with great love.