T was moved to a room where Leslie was quick to get him settled and comfortable. She was professional, communicated with care and concern, assessed the situations, and kept everyone informed. Because T’s family couldn’t be with him, his friends who are like family were. Leslie not only attended to his needs but also ours. Leslie quickly figured out what worked for T and made sure he received what he needed in a timely manner. Her assignments on the floor kept her busy, but she somehow managed to keep on top of T’s very busy medication schedule. While our friend was nearing the end of his life, one of Leslie’s other patients was as well. These situations take a lot of time and somehow Leslie was able to juggle all of those assignments with so much grace and ease. We never saw her flustered, hasty, or rushing.

T was “holding on by a thread” we were told by multiple people. A good friend stayed overnight with him. In the morning we resumed our stay with T and Leslie got us up to speed on his situation. She had been in communication with the doctor who was now in Texas.

T passed away around 3:33 pm. Leslie was in the room with us holding his hand and checking his vitals. She was the perfect blend of caring and professional. While helping us at this difficult time she also managed to quickly get the end-of-life paperwork and calls started. Some might think that Leslie just did her job, but it was more than that. She saw the patient and honored him. T wasn’t just a room number or shift assignment. He was a man who had been through too much. He was someone who deserved her undivided attention when she was in the room with him.

These wonderful people also saw those caring and grieving with T and helped ease their fears. When people do their jobs this well, they truly stand out from others. We felt strongly about T’s care under Leslie, and we want others to know how exceptional we think she is. We can only hope to have such hard-working, caring, and dedicated people on our team when we need it.