Karen, the ICU nurse who has been there for 13 years, was absolutely awesome! She was very transparent with all of us about P's progress. She was very knowledgeable and shared with us in a language that we could understand which helped with all our anxiety. She was always one step ahead of us, so seldom did we even have a question. Because of her extensive experience, she had many stories and thoughts that she shared to continue to encourage and support us. You could tell they were all truthful and that she was there because she wanted to be. P shaved this morning and I wish Karen was here because she cared so very much.
She was so genuine with me and it showed in everything she did. It is not just a job to her, it is what she is all about. When I walked in, she right away introduced herself in a way that I felt relieved and warm. She told me she knew P from just being around him; that he was a very sweet soul and had a heart of gold, which is true, but she picked up on that right away. What wonderful words for a mom to hear. She is full of compassion for others, not just P but his wife, me his mom, his brother and even love for their dog and how important she will be in P's recovery. We could not have done all the days in the ICU without Karen! She was beyond our expectations! She definitely was full of compassion (love for people and it shows), excellence (knowledgeable, experience, transparency) and integrity (stories of life, love and encouragement). Thank you!