Kalina Deese is a ICU nurse with a huge heart who goes above and beyond to help her patients in their toughest moments. Kalina, on assignment at the University of Iowa Downtown campus, had a young patient that was being moved to hospice and was quickly fading. Kalina was called to hospice to administer a med.

While she was there the patients' parents talked to her about how much her dog meant to her and how much it would mean if she was able to see her dog again. Even though this patient wasn't technically her patient anymore, Kalina went above and beyond and coordinated with the parents and the hospital to bring this very special dog into the hospital on a day Kalina was off work. She said the patient immediately pepped up when they walked in.


The dog jumped on the bed and whimpered, clearly missing his owner. The parents helped the young patient, who at this point couldn't move enough on her own to, hug her dog. It was a very special moment for all involved and the sort of thing that makes a job where you are with people at such tough moments rewarding. The young patient passed a few days later but this moment was a special time that lives on in the memories of her parents and Kalina.