A few years back, my daughter was born. She was an angel; absolutely perfect you could say. Unfortunately, she passed on the day before turning 4 months old. She was diagnosed with a rare RT brain tumor and at the time Loma Linda had never seen a case like hers. But I wanted to get into how you came into our lives.

You were my daughter’s nurse for a while around Christmas time while she was in the PICU after her brain surgery. You had the best bedside manner. The majority of the time I was alone in the hospital with her, her dad was always at work, but you always made things just seem easier given the circumstances. Whenever you had down time you always came to talk to me. You were with me when the neuro team told me there was nothing they could do medically besides making her feel as comfortable as possible and that she had 6 months to a year to live.

Obviously, the news was earth-shattering and I couldn’t fathom that this was happening to me, to my child, to my first child who was innocent. I cried and cried and by the time I looked up, I saw you were crying and almost just as heartbroken as I was. After, hospice came, and was trying to get an idea of the direction I wanted to go in. How was I supposed to know? I never thought I would be put in this situation. They left and when you came back into the room, I asked what am I supposed to do? You gave me the best decision I could make which was to take her home and give her the best time of her remaining life surrounded by family.

Sadly, a week later she passed away at Loma Linda on the cardiac floor. I wished you were there with me, as weird as it sounds but she deserved to be surrounded by people who genuinely cared for her. Not too long after we had a beautiful service and attended the walk to remember that Loma Linda hosts yearly. It’s been a process and over time it’s gotten easier, but I still continue to cry for her.

I now have a 3-year-old baby boy who is absolutely amazing and looks so much like her. During that rough time, I appreciated your stories about your son who was in the military, how sweet your wife is and the old doggies you lived with. I remember you telling me that you didn’t live too far from us because you lived by a bar called beaches and at first I told you, you live by the beach that’s nice. I wanted to write to you saying how much I appreciated you at that time when it was my darkest. You were mine and my daughter’s blessing in disguise.

I remember you telling me that you are an RN that gets placed where the coverage is needed because you have experience on every floor. You were at the right place, at the right time with us. I couldn’t imagine going through that without someone like you by my side. I am so happy you are alive and well, especially during the pandemic. Thank you for continuing to make a difference and anyone who has you on their team is blessed and lucky to have you. Throughout the three months, she was alive, I couldn’t tell you how many doctors, nurses, specialists, etc, I talked to but out of everyone you made the only impact for us.

Thank you, Nurse Bob. I wish nothing but the best for you and your family and hope all is well.