Lalaine had a patient with profound autism. The patient was mostly nonverbal and used small words or hand gestures to make his needs and wants known. This patient refused to eat. The patient was able to communicate that he would only eat cheese pizza and cookies. Although not an ideal diet, she communicated regularly with dietary and the kitchen to obtain foods the patient would eat. She even went down to the kitchen and waited while the staff made a pizza and cookies for the patient. The patient initially refused the offering; however, Lalaine continued to go down to the kitchen to get food for the patient. The patient ultimately began to eat and appeared satisfied as he gave staff a wink and a thumbs up.

Lalaine’s diligence, attention, and perseverance are admirable, especially when a patient has difficulty communicating. She took what little communication he offered and worked to make him comfortable and feel understood. This is only one small account of Lalaine's dedication and care. There are so many more!