July 2026 Honoree
Kimberly Solecki, BSN, RN
All the life-changing, positive, and truly remarkable changes that followed began with a simple introduction from an Emergency Department nurse: “Hi, I’m Kim, and I’ll be your nurse today.”
In that moment, she was like an angel sent to us during one of the most difficult and frightening times of our lives. When my son felt lost, overwhelmed, and scared, she did something extraordinary—she listened. She truly listened. Her compassion, kindness, and genuine concern set my son on a path toward healing, self-care, and wellness that continues today. My son, who is in his 30s, was experiencing intense anxiety, fear, and difficulty catching his breath. He had never experienced anything like it before and was terrified. From the moment she entered the room, this nurse spoke to him with a calm, gentle, reassuring voice. She treated him not as a patient in a busy Emergency Department, but as a person who mattered. Over the next several hours, after medication helped ease some of his symptoms, my son remained anxious, tearful, and afraid. Yet this nurse never rushed him. She sat with him, talked with him, and made him feel seen and heard. It was as though the rest of the Emergency Department faded away. In those moments, time seemed to stand still. A connection formed between them that changed the course of his life. She shared something simple yet profound: that all of us, at one point or another, need a little help. Earlier, the physician had recommended that my son voluntarily admit himself to Behavioral Health. He was terrified. He feared being alone, feared leaving me, and feared that if he went in, he might never come out. The nurse gently explained that he didn’t need to be afraid. She told him that he simply needed more tools in his toolbox to help him manage these difficult feelings. Then she said something neither of us will ever forget. She said, “Put your hand on your heart. Your mom will always be right here.” My son was crying as he slowly placed his hand over his heart. He listened intently, as if every word she spoke held the answer he desperately needed. His tears began to slow. His breathing became steadier. He kept his hand over his heart, looked up, and quietly said yes. He agreed to be admitted and get the help he needed. That moment changed everything.
Today, I am thrilled to share that my son is 74 days sober (smoke-free). While many people think of alcohol when they hear the word “sobriety,” cannabis addiction is also a powerful struggle, and he has worked incredibly hard to overcome it. His changes have been nothing short of amazing. He is more engaged, more talkative, and more connected with the people who love him. He has begun making plans with friends and family and has even reconnected with friends he had not spoken to in years. As I write this, he is on a 17-day trip to Japan with one of his brothers and two cousins. The photos they have sent home are filled with smiles, laughter, adventure, and joy. They have explored incredible places, met wonderful people, and created memories that will last a lifetime. My sons have described it as a journey filled with brotherly bonding, emotional growth, and spiritual renewal. None of this would have been possible without the care, compassion, and wisdom of one extraordinary Emergency Department nurse who took the time to truly connect with a frightened young man when he needed it most. Had our paths not crossed with Kim that day, I believe my son would still be self-medicating with cannabis and isolating himself from the world around him. Instead, he took the first steps toward a healthier, happier life—a life he now understands he deserves, a life he has worked hard to build, and a life in which he knows he is supported.
As a mother, no words are adequate to express my gratitude for what this nurse gave my son and our family. Her kindness, empathy, patience, and genuine human connection reached far beyond the walls of the Emergency Department. She did not simply care for a patient that day; she helped change the trajectory of a life. For that, I will be forever grateful.
In that moment, she was like an angel sent to us during one of the most difficult and frightening times of our lives. When my son felt lost, overwhelmed, and scared, she did something extraordinary—she listened. She truly listened. Her compassion, kindness, and genuine concern set my son on a path toward healing, self-care, and wellness that continues today. My son, who is in his 30s, was experiencing intense anxiety, fear, and difficulty catching his breath. He had never experienced anything like it before and was terrified. From the moment she entered the room, this nurse spoke to him with a calm, gentle, reassuring voice. She treated him not as a patient in a busy Emergency Department, but as a person who mattered. Over the next several hours, after medication helped ease some of his symptoms, my son remained anxious, tearful, and afraid. Yet this nurse never rushed him. She sat with him, talked with him, and made him feel seen and heard. It was as though the rest of the Emergency Department faded away. In those moments, time seemed to stand still. A connection formed between them that changed the course of his life. She shared something simple yet profound: that all of us, at one point or another, need a little help. Earlier, the physician had recommended that my son voluntarily admit himself to Behavioral Health. He was terrified. He feared being alone, feared leaving me, and feared that if he went in, he might never come out. The nurse gently explained that he didn’t need to be afraid. She told him that he simply needed more tools in his toolbox to help him manage these difficult feelings. Then she said something neither of us will ever forget. She said, “Put your hand on your heart. Your mom will always be right here.” My son was crying as he slowly placed his hand over his heart. He listened intently, as if every word she spoke held the answer he desperately needed. His tears began to slow. His breathing became steadier. He kept his hand over his heart, looked up, and quietly said yes. He agreed to be admitted and get the help he needed. That moment changed everything.
Today, I am thrilled to share that my son is 74 days sober (smoke-free). While many people think of alcohol when they hear the word “sobriety,” cannabis addiction is also a powerful struggle, and he has worked incredibly hard to overcome it. His changes have been nothing short of amazing. He is more engaged, more talkative, and more connected with the people who love him. He has begun making plans with friends and family and has even reconnected with friends he had not spoken to in years. As I write this, he is on a 17-day trip to Japan with one of his brothers and two cousins. The photos they have sent home are filled with smiles, laughter, adventure, and joy. They have explored incredible places, met wonderful people, and created memories that will last a lifetime. My sons have described it as a journey filled with brotherly bonding, emotional growth, and spiritual renewal. None of this would have been possible without the care, compassion, and wisdom of one extraordinary Emergency Department nurse who took the time to truly connect with a frightened young man when he needed it most. Had our paths not crossed with Kim that day, I believe my son would still be self-medicating with cannabis and isolating himself from the world around him. Instead, he took the first steps toward a healthier, happier life—a life he now understands he deserves, a life he has worked hard to build, and a life in which he knows he is supported.
As a mother, no words are adequate to express my gratitude for what this nurse gave my son and our family. Her kindness, empathy, patience, and genuine human connection reached far beyond the walls of the Emergency Department. She did not simply care for a patient that day; she helped change the trajectory of a life. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Thank you, Kimberly, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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