I wholeheartedly offer this nomination and commendation of Vickie, who serves as a nurse within the Intensive Care Unit. My older brother was her patient for nearly a month. While he was a resident in Hot Springs I live in Santa Fe New Mexico. So, I was dependent upon phone calls as his next of kin emergency contact and medical advocate. As one could imagine this was not easy from such a geographic distance and Vickie's thoughtful reports by phone absolutely closed the gap of distance. I certainly appreciate all the ICU, the physicians, nurses, and clerks of course, but I discovered from my first phone conversation by phone with Vickie that I could rely upon her expertise, the decades of experience as a nurse, the understanding of my brother's multiple medical conditions, and the kind and straightforward way with me. I depended upon Vickie's honesty since I was striving to understand my brother’s daily status, the medical interventions being recommended by the physicians, and ultimately his prognosis. It was clear to me that Vickie understood my brother as their patient and as a human being.

My brother had a long history of COPD and then contracted Covid-19. He was 70 years old. Vickie also understood me as the younger brother calling in to find out about him. When it became clear to me that my brother was completely dependent upon the ventilator for his breathing and medications to keep his blood pressure and heart rate stable, I asked Vickie if this was indeed the case. She kindly confirmed my understanding. I asked about hospice care for my brother and Vickie explained the compassionate protocol of how he would be taken off the ventilator with medications to prevent pain or distress. In the midst of this profoundly difficult situation and decision, and my confidence in Vickie's expertise and care, I asked if she could be the one to take care of my brother through this process. Vickie said yes and carefully explained the steps to me. Vickie contacted my brother’s physician who spoke with me about the reality of the situation with him and secured my consent. I knew that I could count on Vickie providing respect and human dignity toward my brother in following the physician's orders.

I wanted a local Presbyterian pastor to come to ICU to offer a prayer and blessing of my brother’s life and Vickie made that arrangement possible. This was of great comfort to me and honored our family. Vickie told me that they would call me during the process of removing him from the ventilator. Since I was not able to be there, Vickie made sure that I was as present as possible. Vickie called me throughout the process and then right after my brother took his last breath. Vickie explained that he was now at peace.

I am clear that I could not have navigated this profoundly challenging time of looking out for my brother in the midst of his critical condition without the extraordinary patient care provided by Vickie. From our first conversation by phone to our final call after my brother’s death, Vickie went the distance with him and with me. I will be forever grateful that my brother had such a remarkable nurse looking after him and walking with me during this journey.