​ My grandmother is a 90-year-old woman who needed emergent bowel surgery after suffering with diverticulitis for years. My grandmother is a very strong woman, was up walking the next day and increasing activity, and ambulation and started clears post-op day 2. Things looked very promising and we were comfortable leaving her alone at the hospital overnight.

That night, my grandmother ended up with an ileus, vomiting in pain on herself, alone throughout the night. In the morning, Mary advocated for her patient she had never met before, advocating for my grandmother when she didn’t have anyone else present to advocate for her. She insisted the pain, nausea, and vomiting that she had been suffering from throughout the night be addressed immediately. Mary then washed her, showing my grandmother the dignity and respect she deserved. Mary continued to make Grandma feel better by helping her back out of bed and doing some light “dancing” which is one of my grandmother's favorite things as she is full of life. Mary’s standards of care, competency, and compassion helped my grandmother through her bad days and helped the family feel comfortable with the care she was receiving. Mary’s bright personality helped pick up my grandmother's spirits when she was feeling worn down from her illness.

From the first day Mary met Grandma to the day she was discharged, Mary never looked at Grandma like she was just a 90-year-old lady who had nothing more to live for, as many other practitioners had. She took the time to see her as a human, our favorite human and expected she be treated as such. Mary was truly God-sent. We were so lucky to have her with our grandma and with us. Thank you, Mary, for everything!!