From day one of my father-in-law's stay in the ICU after having major surgery, Melanie treated us all like family. She was extremely attentive to her patient's complex medical needs, and despite dealing with many serious complications, she went above and beyond her medical duties and created connections with her patient and our family.

Melanie consistently made sure that my father-in-law was as comfortable as possible, and at the slightest sign that he might have been experiencing discomfort, she would spring into action. She was insistent that his bed be clean and sheets tidy even though she had many other priorities to deal with simultaneously.

Perhaps the most appreciated act of kindness Melanie bestowed on our family is when we were facing end-of-life care with our loved one and she helped us talk through so many difficult decisions. She listened intently as if her patient was one of her own family members, she provided us with the resources we needed, she communicated with other medical team members on our behalf, and she cried just as we cried in sadness. Melanie doesn't just go through the motions of doing her job as an ICU nurse, she is fully invested in the whole person and their loved ones. I work in the medical field as well and I've never met a person who does their job so well. Our family is forever grateful that our lives crossed paths with Melanie just when we needed her.