Maria brings a soft touch to the patients in the ICU. When many of us focus on the difficult challenges ICU patients confront, Maria never forgets that there is a person with a lifetime full of family, friends and history attached to that patient.

In the past Maria has spearheaded fundraising events for fellow nurses in crisis. She has prayed with patients and nurses alike when they are feeling the need for spiritual guidance. She consistently maintains a caring and kind demeanor in the face of some of the most difficult patient/family situations.

Currently Maria is leading the "Cube of Love" initiative in the ICU. She not only reminds us all to treat others with kindness, compassion and love, but she relays stories to us via e-mail that support the Cube of Love mindset. These stories often remind us in subtle ways how important is our every action. She reminds us that even helping clean a patient is an act of love for our colleague.

Often we forget that each person, whether patient, nurse or doctor has a story. What we do and say to each other can make one's day brighter or can make their day more difficult. She reminds each of us that you don't have to "save the world" to make a difference....the world is often changed one kind word at a time.