Lauren consistently exhibits excellence in her clinical role but perhaps, more importantly, she exhibits empathy and compassion that is unmatched in any nurse that I have worked with in my 20-year career. I have seen Lauren sit at the bedside of a young 32-year-old patient who was frightened and dying of cancer holding her hand and comforting her through the night. I have seen her bring her patients from tears of grief to laughter in a moment. She lights up the room of each patient she cares for, while also taking time to comfort the families that surround them.
Most recently, Lauren was caring for a man with metastatic cancer who wished to attend a Cleveland Indians baseball game before he died. We were able to secure tickets for him through the Indians organization. However, the patient had no living family, and the one friend he identified as his support was unable to go to the game with him. Lauren offered to accompany the patient on her own time to assist him in getting in and out of the stadium so that he would be able to attend the game. By doing so, we were able to honor this man's dying wish. I wish there were words for me to adequately describe the patient's reaction when we told him he would be able to attend the game. I am confident that the memory of this night, as well as knowing that a CCF nurse was willing to go the distance to make this happen, will help provide comfort as he moves through the end of life.
Lauren is a true DAISY Nurse.