Leah is the type of nurse I aspire to be someday, and a person a lot of younger nurses admire. She is always willing to help every nurse, patient, and family member out. She is a great resource for questions and her love for the nursing profession is endless. Leah can make light of a serious situation and her sense of humor is known to put smiles on the faces of many patients and staff. Leah is not the type of person to sit down, because she will always find some way to help others on her 12 hour shift.....which leads me to a story that shows her real character as a nurse.
Leah was caring for a young male cancer patient during the week of Christmas. The patient had been in remission from his cancer, but recently diagnosed with an active cancer that had spread throughout his body. The prognosis was poor for the overall chance of beating this type of cancer. The patient was in the ICU and could not leave the floor without a nurse. Leah worked to get caught up with her other ICU patient so that she would be able to spend time with this young man. It was a good chance this could be his last Christmas spent on this earth. Therefore, per the patient wishes, she escorted the patient down to the chapel for Christmas Eve Services.
Leah stayed with the patient the whole time during the service, and was able to be with the patient and his family while saying a prayer for him during the service. After the service, she took the patient to the gift shop so he could get a few things he had been wanting. Not only did she take the time for the patient, but she was able to make his day a little better with her sense of humor and caring attitude. It may not seem to be a big thing to many, but to the patient stuck in the hospital on possibly his last Christmas, it meant more than could be put into words.