My 57-year-old father has just finished an emergency bypass and was in the intensive care unit. You're never quite prepared to see the once lovely and vivacious person you knew to now be struggling to speak, move, or breathe. As you can imagine, the anxiety for patients and family alike is immense. Nervous thoughts rush in like a flooded river and sweep you away. Nicole is like a stalwart rock in the middle of that river. In the midst of the turn ail and anguish of major surgery, Nicole was able to ground us by patiently explaining everything happening, answering each of our many, many questions, and gently comforting us on what would happen next. I cannot overstate the relief she provided with just her presence. She was warmth, she was light, she was comfort, she was everything a family needed while watching a loved one navigate a narrowing recovery. Leading up to a surgery, you always hope that your family will receive the highest quality care. As soon as Nicole walked into the room, we knew we were getting it. She is as kind as she is professional and as empathetic as she is talented. She attended not only my father as her patient, but us as family that she genuinely cared about. We are immensely grateful for her patience, compassion, and expertise. She epitomizes the highest standard of professional medical care and has our sincerest appreciation for all she has done for me, my father, and our family. Thank you, Nicole!