I went through the absolute most devastating, heartbreaking, traumatic event of my life. My dear father suffered an unexpected medical incident, and was emergently transferred to Grant ER, but unfortunately he passed away. Linda Barca, RN was an absolute staple in making this process as tolerable as possible. You see, not only am I a family member of a patient, I am also an OhioHealth APP associate from Riverside.

Linda went above and beyond typical RN duties for my father, me, and my family from the moment he got to GMC. Linda saw how devastated and distraught I was, and she went out of her way to contact my manager here at Riverside to get the ball rolling to let them know I would need time off and informed my work so I could focus on my family. She handled logistical things that my family and I were not able to even think of at this point. I was so distraught upon entering the ER, seeing my dear dad was gone, that I collapsed, and Linda tended to me and made sure I did not need medical attention myself. She even provided resources for our family, and for me for EAP and grief counseling, which is one less thing I will need to do and worry about (as I will definitely need this resource). She was in and out of the room the whole time, while my family and I said goodbyes, giving us tissues, chairs, and comfort, getting the chaplain ready by the time my mother got there, and making sure we had private time to mourn and grieve our loss. She made sure that the family was comfortable, that the patient was well presented, covered, and respected, and that we were allowed ample time with my dad to say a final goodbye. She was diligent to ensure the family was taken care of and helped in any way she could.

This was the worst day of my life, and my family's lives. She became the situation leader and navigator during this. My father had passed prior to my sibling and me getting here, so Linda was the only clinical personnel contact I had. The provider and medical team had already left, and I did not see anyone from the clinical team. It was vital to have Linda as a point of contact and liaison during this stressful and confusing process.

Linda exceeded expectations of a nurse and provided a quality of care that extended beyond the patient to the family members. She provided extraordinary compassion and respect for my father and my family. She went beyond the call of duty, spending more time with us until we were ready to leave. She was crucial in navigating other family members and people that showed up for my father, and getting us to appropriate meeting areas after we left the ER. She did not stop until she helped walk us out the door.

I write to you as a family member of a beloved patient recently at GMC, but additionally as a member of OhioHealth myself, I feel OhioHealth should be proud to have a representative and caretaker such as Linda Barca. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the DAISY Award for the exemplary care and compassion she provided. The worst day of my life would have been even more unbearable if not for the assistance of Mrs. Linda Barca. I will forever be thankful for her caring and compassionate assistance on this day.