On Friday and Saturday, my brother was in the ICU of South Seminole Hospital. I spent several hours each day sitting with him and my sister-in-law and various other family members who came and went. We were all impressed and comforted by the level of care shown to him by all the doctors and staff, but we were bowled over by his wonderful nurse, Laura Ames.

My brother was very ill and fearful. Laura's compassion was tangible. Her clear explanations to him and us soothed his anxiety. My brother was the center of her attention, but she was always including family members, she was incredible patient with all of our questions. Her sense of humor kept all of us at ease and made my brother smile. She did small things: smoothing the blanket and removing discarded items; while performing medical tasks, she told us what she was doing and why. She simultaneously created calm and brought joy. When my sister-in-law was worried about my brother's breathing, she carefully checked him and thoroughly explained to her why and how she, Laura, knew that his breathing was okay.

Not only was Laura caring for my brother and continually reaching out to our family to deal with concerns, but she also had a nurse in training with her. I am a retired educator, and I pay attention to the way people instruct and direct. She is a great teacher. She has a sharp eye for detail; she encouraged, she praised, and she guided. It was clear that she was conveying her love for nursing to the young woman who followed her. I have been in critical care units before, and I know the amazing things that medical professionals can do there to keep people alive. I deeply appreciate their science and their training. However, I have never witnessed the deep caring for her patient that Laura Ames showed toward my brother.