My brother grew up on a farm and entered the military following high school. He is 66 years old and a disabled veteran. He has never been married and does not have any children. After serving in the military, he began a career as a maintenance supervisor for a helicopter company where he worked for over 20 years. Ten years ago, he had a stroke due to complications following an angiogram procedure. He moved to SD from Oregon to be closer to family. He currently lives independently and uses a motorized scooter as his primary source of mobility.

Recently, he was examined in the ER at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital and then admitted to the ICU due to severe cellulitis infection and was in critical condition. He has had numerous medical conditions in addition to the current cellulitis infection.

The nurse and her team took care of my brother for three twelve-hour shifts during the most difficult and crucial time of his stay. I sat through many of those hours, witnessing the most caring, compassionate, patient, and dedicated RN. During her first shift he was sedated as he became combative, and a quick response code was put into action. He was in and out of sedation and very agitated, vocal, and demanding while also on a Bipap machine. His communication commands were almost impossible to understand. The nurse went above and beyond all expectations with a smile and warm heart. When he was not allowed to have food or water, due to his condition, she satisfied him with mouth swabs which eventually led to ice chips and then eventually graduated to taking some oral meds with applesauce. I watched her challenge him to keep his eyes open for a minute to get an ice chip. It worked. She recognized that I was under a great deal of stress and emotion as I watched my brother struggle to breathe and thought I might lose him. She comforted me and called on the Chaplin. She took twenty minutes of her time to call one of my family members who was out of state to answer all their questions.

On her third twelve-hour shift, she had three patient care techs who were training. Watching her tend to my brother's medical needs while at the same time teaching them is an exceptional tribute to who she really is. She showed them how to give a sponge bath and even shaved him. She was continuously reviewing his chart and always informed me of any updates or plans of treatment. I remember that during her three twelve-hour shifts, my brother was not the only patient in the ICU. She was an extraordinary nurse with a heart of Gold. She is truly serving the Avera Mission and is setting an example for all who work beside her. It is evident she takes her responsibilities seriously and is making a difference in the lives of the patients she cares for and their families. She is very deserving of this award. She is an ICU nurse whom I will never forget. Thank you for being who you are.