July 2022
Maria
Lao
,
RN
ICU
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Gilbert
,
AZ
United States
She didn’t just offer physical care - she offered compassion.
My 25 year old niece suffered multiple strokes and was admitted to the ICU. By that same evening we knew she would not recover. On Wednesday night my son and I stayed the night with G, Maria was her nurse that night. The care she gave my niece was so gentle, so caring, so compassionate, almost as if she loved her the way we do. My niece had several childhood baby dolls and stuffed animals on her bed. Every time Maria adjusted G, she took care to also readjust all her toys. Maria gave her a bath and adjusted her braid so she would look beautiful. All night Maria asked me if I needed anything - offering snacks, drinks, warm blankets. If I were a nurse I could not have given G any better, loving, tender care. She didn’t just tend to G, she tended to all of us. She didn’t just offer physical care - she offered compassion. This woman whom I had only known for 8 hours hugged me when she left and told me she was praying for my family. Thank you Maria for being an amazing, wonderful, loving human being.