Yahaira was the day nurse in the Sixth North-South ICU on many days when my sister was hospitalized at Banner early last month. She underwent a double-lung transplant, just as the pandemic was taking off; she was starting to show signs of rejection -- something that hadn't bothered her before -- she simply wasn't getting enough air in.  

To find out what was going on with her lungs, a bronchoscopy was performed, and she was placed on a ventilator. Yahaira took care of her that full week, I believe. I first met Yahaira when I arrived from my home in Idaho, and I quickly saw how sensitive this extraordinary nurse was to my sister's needs. Yahaira continually expended extra effort to make her comfortable.

Beyond Yahaira's hefty clinical expertise and years of experience, her compassion was evident in so many ways -- how she spoke to my sister in the most loving terms (although she could not respond); her manner with me and others who visited; in her interactions with others on the floor; and how she dealt with the many physicians who came in and out.

Although all of the Banner nurses who helped my sister were competent, what impressed me the most about Yahaira was her *gentleness.* She should give lessons on how a person's hands can do a precise task but with infinite tender care. I even took a photo of her doing a draw of medicine which I believe shows this....  We -- my other sister, her friends, and me -- all benefitted from Yahaira's steady spirit.

 My sister's life spirit was strong; she passed about three hours after her breathing tube was removed. I was so glad that Yahaira was there on those last steps of her journey of life.

Yahaira Franco epitomizes the spirit of this recognition, as she provided the utmost physical, mental, and emotional support to my sister and to me.