Where do I start? I have watched this nurse over the past few nights care for this patient as if it were her own family member. She went beyond to not only care for this patient but also allowed her son to tell her story. I feel like she supported him by letting him share his mom’s legacy, which helps people cope. She also painted her patient’s nails when they got chipped (which is something most people do not think about). This patient was super sick (coded, intubated, CRRT), and she made time for the small things like her hair and nails. I honestly never saw her sit down or leave the room over the stretch that she cared for her. It was memorable.

Sommer even requested to pick up overtime shifts to see it through. Unfortunately, the patient went CMO, and she continued to provide amazing support for the family. Sommer brought supplies from her own home to make memorabilia for the family. She painted a handprint and even framed it for the son. On top of that, she printed EKG strips and put them in bottles for them to take home. The thing that blew me away the most was that she did all of this so selflessly and quietly, like it was just a part of her job. She was not looking for recognition. She is an incredible nurse and inspiring as a thoughtful human. She even made me shed a tear. I know death is so hard, but she made it beautiful in a way to keep this patient’s memory alive!  Not many of us take the time to get to know who the patient was before they ever became a patient, but Sommer does. 

If anyone I love ends up in the hospital, I hope the nurse is just at least as half as amazing as she is.