My father has been a continuous patient at Maine Medical Center for over 2 years now. He is quite a personality, and his care is quite complex. A number of nurses have taken great care of him, but Melissa's care stands out as exceptional. His communication has declined because he is on a vent. She has taken the time to understand him -- which is quite a feat, especially these days. She serves as a translator between him and his care team when they can't understand him, which is often. Her extra time in the room over the course of his care has meant she is able to understand him when so many others cannot, and we are forever grateful for this extended amount of time she has given him to communicate. Melissa has built an excellent rapport with my father, which has proven so wonderful for his spirit in these trying times. She requests to take care of him (he requests that she requests him) because she knows it will make him calmer. It also makes me calmer. Especially when we have had these extended COVID visitor bans, any day I knew Melissa had my dad, I knew he would get great care and great company. She has also been kind enough to give him haircuts and other things like applying moisturizer that make him feel a bit more like himself. I cannot stress enough how much Melissa's presence has improved my father's experience. She is practically a surrogate daughter to him, and for that I am so very appreciative.