Leslie spoke to S like she had known him her whole life, even though he was not awake on his last day. Her interactions with S were genuine and intentional. Watching Leslie take care of S was like watching a ballerina dance, a boat glide seamlessly through gentle waters, and (as S would appreciate), a seasoned landscaper getting the edges of the lawn just right. It was perfect. There was no point where anyone in our family questioned if S was receiving all of Leslie's attention or receiving experienced and intentional care. She always explained what she was doing, made sure everyone was aware and spoke to us in a way that cut through the shock and confusion of the day.

S's last few days on earth were long and difficult, but Leslie helped make the days as painless and as comfortable as possible. When the time came for us to decide whether to put S on a ventilator, Leslie made sure we understood what that meant. As this obviously came as a shock to us, Leslie helped us understand that our decision was the right decision. She explained why it would help S. At the end of his life, it was very hard for S to breathe. And Leslie explained to us, when we made the decision, that this ventilator would give S's lungs and body a much-needed break. When S did not seem to improve on the ventilator, Leslie followed her instinct and called us all in. We are so grateful that she did because we were able to spend a few more hours with my husband and my kids' dad. Leslie treated every member of our family like we were her own family. She joked with us, she talked to us, and most importantly, she prayed with us. When S was passing, Leslie stayed in the room.