Marilynn was the night nurse for my cousin who was at the VA dying of cancer. Marilynn was amazing. Her respect for him was heartwarming. Even though he most likely couldn't hear her, she spoke to him softly while giving him his meds, looked him in the eyes, held his hand, stroked his arm, talked to him about his pictures of his parents. She set up her workstation in his room until I got there so he would not be alone. When another family member who lives out of state would call, she would take the phone to him and hold it to his ear so they could speak with him.
Not to mention her care of her patient, but her care of me! I would come to the hospital after work, usually arrived around 7:30 or 8:00 PM and I would stay 2 hours or so. Then on nights that I had the next day off, I would spend the night. Marilynn always wanted to know what she could get for me.
One night I came in wet and cold; Marilynn brought me hot tea and best of all a hot blanket, I knew then that I had my own private angel. When I arrived one night, the Chaplin was there. Marilynn told me it was getting close and that tonight was her short shift she would be off at 3:30 AM. Then she would be off for 5 days. Then it hit me, what if he passes tomorrow, then Marilynn would not be there and that made me very sad. As it turned out he passed at 3:00 AM right before she left. Thank goodness she was there for him. She is a special person. I thank God she is at the VA; our Vets need her.