When her father was unexpectedly admitted to University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, her world shifted in an instant. The man who was her best friend and grandfather to her two children was dying. In that moment of heartbreak, she says a nurse brought grace and love to her father’s passing.

“I’ve worked in skilled nursing and end-of-life care,” she shares. “I’ve met many amazing professionals through my work with NAMI-CV and the hospital. But I’ve never met anyone quite like Walter Rooks.”

Rooks introduced himself to her, her mother, and even her father, who was no longer responsive. He quietly bowed his head beside her father, recognizing the sacredness of the moment. He spoke gently, explaining each step of care, even though he couldn’t respond.

“He talked to my dad like he was still fully there,” the patient's daughter recalls. “He made sure every movement, every adjustment, was done with care and dignity.”

Rooks advocated for frequent comfort checks and medication to ease his passing. He carefully positioned him with the help of assistants, adjusting blankets and pillows to ensure he was truly comfortable. And when her mother had to step away, Rooks offered words of peace.

“Walter rubbed my dad’s arm and said, ‘Your wife went home. She is safe. Your daughter is here. You are okay. You are loved.’ That moment will stay with me forever,” she says.

The patient's daughter adds that Rooks stayed well past the end of his shift, continuing to check on her and speak to her father with warmth and love. At one point, her father smiled, something she hadn’t seen in days.

“That smile meant everything to me,” she says. “Walter made such a traumatic experience a peaceful one. I felt heard. My father was respected and cared for far beyond the call of duty.”

Walter’s impact was so profound that the patient's daughter insisted he be mentioned in her father’s obituary.

“Now, when I talk about my dad’s passing, I talk about Walter,” she says.