During the six weeks that my father was in the hospital, Lauren really was an angel for him. She was also an angel for me. She made sure to treat my father like a person, not just a patient. She sang to my dad when he didn’t feel well at night and rallied medical assistants who were there helping to sing along. She made his lonely nights bearable for him, and he would light up when she came into the room. I was with my father morning and night, leaving only to go to work or to go to sleep. When it got really late, I observed the care of many excellent and caring individuals. Lauren stands out because she not only ministered to my father but also to myself and my sons.

When the time came that I had to have the hard conversations about the end of life, of course, I was devastated. Everything weighed so heavy on me. She validated me and showed me love and concern. She was my nurse, too. As I tried to navigate this difficult time, she really helped me cope. She listened and showed love and compassion, just as if she knew how painful it was for me and my family and my father. Lauren put a human touch, an extra caring touch, to every day. She was part of our family. The day I first had those difficult conversations about decision-making and trying to reach my brothers. She stood by my side.

The day my dad passed, she was off, but she came. Thank you for choosing such an excellent, compassionate nurse to be part of your facility. I will never forget her and the others who served my dad. Losing my father was very painful, and everything that went with it afterward. People like Lauren helped me through this pain I know it is long after we have been gone from your facility but our memories of Lauren and how she cared for my father and us will always be special to me.