My loved one had open heart surgery and was brought to the ICU for recovery, Nurse Kelley was there with all the comfort, compassion, skill, and answers we needed. As soon as I was brought back to the room, I was greeted by Kelley, updated on J’s condition, and given a detailed time frame of events to take place over the next few hours. Kelley's extraordinary clinical skill and compassion are something that was instrumental in recovery, especially in the first few hours. Kelley never left the bedside and spoke directly to J when he was waking up. Working tirelessly and diligently to help J wake up, take the first breaths on his own, comfort him, and ease his pain, she was there.

One thing I really appreciated was the respect for his dignity she showed and her intuition for his needs. It was reassuring to know that Kelley was at the bedside. I could depend on her to look after J and that brought me solace. Going above and beyond, her gentle reassurance and encouragement were comforting at a stressful time.

Truly, exemplifying what every nurse should strive to be, Kelley is a shining star. It is apparent that Kelley knows her job and knows it well. Extremely knowledgeable, her ability to explain the course of events and happenings in simple understandable terms was appreciated. She is committed to nursing for all the right reasons. We would like Kelley to know the gratitude we feel for her and the appreciation for the care she gave. Thank you for your kindness and heartfelt compassionate care, we will never forget it!