Pam Sutton's patient called her into her room in the middle of her shift for an unusual request: she wanted to get married that day in her hospital room. She asked Pam to be her witness. Pam, while also caring for her 4 other patients, immediately began calling pastoral care to make this happen. Pastoral Care was unavailable at the time, and because another weather event was approaching, Pam asked if the patient would be willing to postpone her wedding until the following day. Pastoral Care visited the patient and her fiance that evening and agreed to marry the couple the following evening. Pam, who was not scheduled the next day and not able to come in, switched into nurse/wedding planner mode. Before the end of her shift, she secured a nurse for the patient the following day who was just as excited as she to make this day special for the patient. Pam communicated and discussed the details with the patient and her family as the details came to light. Pam demonstrated an individually-caring environment for her patient and went above and beyond to create a life changing event of happiness all while also treating the patient medically.

Pam demonstrated extraordinary compassion for the patient and her family and her actions made an enormous difference in this patient's life.