It is truly an honor to be part of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, especially when we receive letters as heart-warming as one we received in January. A patient's daughter wrote about her experience while her mother was here with us and described the incredible care provided by a few of our nurses. One of these nurses, Kelly Flower, is our first DAISY Award honoree for a very good reason. Here's an excerpt from the patient's daughter's letter to our hospital:

Kelly - I think of you most of all. You called us when it was going south. As my family all went to sleep and I stayed with my Mom, you sat with me. You talked to me. You were a friend. You wrapped blankets around my father and me. You made me feel like it was okay to sit there and to talk and ramble. It was such a long night and if you had not been there, I would have cried loud and probably bawled. That was the last thing I wanted to do in my Mom's room. Because you were there, I was not alone. I was able to be strong and since I believe my Mom was aware, I think she could pass because she could see that I was strong. Who knows. I guess we all tell ourselves what we need to in order to deal with what we were not expecting to have to deal with.

Thank you Kelly for calling us at midnight so that I could spend my Mom's last night with her. Thank you for saying that you wanted to be there with us/her instead of moving her into a regular room when we were about to move. Thank you for letting me know that I might not want to see her get her last rites because she was ready to go to the mortuary. Thank you for sitting with me when I was alone and going through the worst of it. Kelly - I will always remember your presence and your strength.