My mother was recently hospitalized after having 80% of her colon removed. In her 83 years, Mom had never been hospitalized with the exception of giving birth to her children, so the anxiety she felt regarding the surgery, recovery, and future lifestyle changes were overwhelming. Once mom was assigned a room post-op I knew at once that she was in good hands. The entire nursing staff was amazing, but there was one stand-out in the crowd. Lillian always walked into Mom's room with a reassuring smile. Her mood was always upbeat and pleasant as she patiently addressed Mom's questions and concerns. She gave my mom so much specialized attention that it was often difficult to comprehend that she had other patients to care for. My mother told me that she and Lillian had several long talks about future lifestyle changes, and while she didn't "sugar coat" anything with my mom, her delivery was kind and caring which helped my mother accept reality. I also found that when I approached Lillian with a concern, she always began her answer with, "Well if she were my grandmother", and I found this to be very comforting. When my mom was discharged, she commented on the hospital's wonderful nursing staff and then added what a dear friend Lillian was to her. I could not let time pass without saying thank you to my mom's new friend. Thank you, Lillian, for taking such good care of my mom. You are truly everything that a nurse should be.