My husband of 42 years was admitted to Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital for neurological and surgical health issues during the holiday season, which was devastating. During his course of stay, my husband’s condition deteriorated, and he eventually continued his journey to eternal life. There were extremely tense moments with my husband's health care when Nicole stepped in to assist and provide support for myself and my family.

At one point there was a team of physicians that approached me to consider changing my husband’s code status to DNR which just drained me. Nicole supported me, "wait and talk to the neurosurgeon" in a kind and gentle manner, as I was taken off guard by this approach. I did speak with the neurosurgeon who gave me hope. During the course of the next two weeks, my husband’s condition declined. Nicole was there for me, my sons, and my husband. Offering encouragement, using a critical manner that I could relate to and understand. She offered to get me lunch, coffee, and things that I might need for my stay with my husband (we lived 120 miles from the hospital, and I never left Saginaw during his stay).

During his last 24 hours of life, Nicole prepared me for what was inevitable, which was extremely difficult to endure. She spoke with compassion to my son on the phone who could not be there and with our other son when he arrived, providing all the support we needed. She assisted with the end-of-life paperwork, questions, etc., right by our side. Nicole and others from the unit were in the room with me during my husband’s last moments; this will be forever imprinted in my memories.