August 2026 Honoree
Stephanie Belluardo, RN
My mom was hospitalized for swelling in her legs and ultimately diagnosed with chronic heart failure and end-stage COPD. As you could imagine, it was a very difficult diagnosis for my family.
During the stay, she was my mom's nurse several times. The first time she met us, she came into the room, talked about my mom's diagnosis, explained as much as she possibly could, and then allowed us to ask as many questions as we needed to. She was able to answer most of them on her own and immediately messaged the doctors to ask the questions she couldn't answer.
She was attentive to my mom's needs and thoughtful in her approach to my mom's care. She treated my mom like a human being. She treated my mom with dignity and respect in some of my mom's most vulnerable moments of her life. No task was too big or too small, and she was extremely patient and gentle.
She was compassionate and understanding of our feelings, and I think it's rare for a nurse to not only care for the patient but also put so much time and energy into the worries, concerns, and feelings of family members. She fought for us to be able to stay around the clock for my mom. She made sure every aide who came into the room treated my mom the same way she did.
To say we were impressed is a true understatement. I hugged her on Mom's discharge day and couldn't help but cry. I felt like the care she gave my mom directly helped her get home. I trusted her with my mom's life, and I'm not sure how much more you could trust a person. Even when she was supposed to be off the next day, she offered to come in just to take care of my mom.
My mom doesn't remember her because of her condition when she was in the hospital but my family and I, we will never forget her. UH, you better hold onto that one.
During the stay, she was my mom's nurse several times. The first time she met us, she came into the room, talked about my mom's diagnosis, explained as much as she possibly could, and then allowed us to ask as many questions as we needed to. She was able to answer most of them on her own and immediately messaged the doctors to ask the questions she couldn't answer.
She was attentive to my mom's needs and thoughtful in her approach to my mom's care. She treated my mom like a human being. She treated my mom with dignity and respect in some of my mom's most vulnerable moments of her life. No task was too big or too small, and she was extremely patient and gentle.
She was compassionate and understanding of our feelings, and I think it's rare for a nurse to not only care for the patient but also put so much time and energy into the worries, concerns, and feelings of family members. She fought for us to be able to stay around the clock for my mom. She made sure every aide who came into the room treated my mom the same way she did.
To say we were impressed is a true understatement. I hugged her on Mom's discharge day and couldn't help but cry. I felt like the care she gave my mom directly helped her get home. I trusted her with my mom's life, and I'm not sure how much more you could trust a person. Even when she was supposed to be off the next day, she offered to come in just to take care of my mom.
My mom doesn't remember her because of her condition when she was in the hospital but my family and I, we will never forget her. UH, you better hold onto that one.
Thank you, Stephanie, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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