Kendall took care of my grandad for a few days. He is a patient with cancer, came in with a UTI very confused and with L1 fracture needing pain management and his goals of care addressed. When I initially called for an update, I was very apprehensive because as a nurse, I've been on the side of the phone call where I'm nervous/cautious to give another nurse an update. Kendall exemplified the kindness and grace towards me that I wish more nurses (myself included) had. She spent more time than I knew she had updating me on all body systems and my grandad's emotional state. Through her update, I could feel that she believed in holistic nursing care at the root of her being and that my grandad was in truly compassionate hands. This is my first experience with having a loved one in the hospital and because of the sways of healthcare, I've been nervous to have a family member in the healthcare system. Kendall, though this update, really alleviated my anxiety and I knew that my grandad was being appropriately and compassionately advocated for.  

I just want to reiterate to nurses that kindness goes a heck of a long way. I hope writing this inspires the same kindness that Kendall exemplified towards her patients and their families for her entire career. I think as nurses, the patients start to blur together and they oftentimes feel like just another report, but what I realize being on the other side right now is that their caregivers greatly impact the people on the other side. I don't ever want to take for granted that as nurses, we live in the worst days of everyone's lives... and we do so with an attempted smile or attempted compassion, and I pray that as nurses, we never stop approaching complicated situations with kindness and grace. Thank you, Kendall and thank you for speaking so highly of my grandad. I'm sure he appreciated you.