...my husband suffered a heart attack while a short distance from our home. I was two hours away with family. Through a series of miraculous events, that included the efforts of Henry Ford doctors, nurses, police officers, West Bloomfield Fire Department EMS employees, Sheriff Deputies, and total strangers, he survived and is well on his way to a complete recovery.

This short description of the events of the day is intended to highlight the efforts of Ted Odrobina, his initial nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. I am nominating Ted for the Henry Ford DAISY Award because of his skill, experience, kindness and above all, his compassion and extremely caring attitude toward my husband.

I was with my husband each day from early morning until late in the afternoon in the ICU and at all times, Ted was within a few feet of the room, hovering, caring and watching over my husband. He worked with the many doctors, Physician Assistants, Technicians and nursing staff to ensure that he received the very best of care. He treated my husband like a member of his own family, and perhaps this is why he was with me, my sister, and our priest in the room, receiving the anointing that our priest bestowed on my husband and each of us.

Having been told that my husband may never recover, I watched, waited and prayed each day for a miracle. Within 10 minutes of our priest leaving the room, my husband started to open his eyes and first squeezed Ted's hand, then wiggled his toes on his command. None of us could believe the miracle that had just happened, and all of our eyes welled with tears. Slowly, over the next few days, as my husband got better and better, we attributed his recovery to many things; our God, the skill and knowledge of Henry Ford Staff, complete strangers who turned out to be my husband's first responders, and Ted, who spent four long days with us.

Knowing that Ted's shift ended on Tuesday afternoon and that he would be gone the remainder of the week, I was apprehensive and asked that he stay, but I understood that staffing is not in my control and that I needed to trust the nursing management. Several nurses saw him after Ted left, and they were all qualified, kind, experienced and knew their jobs. These are all very admirable qualities and ones that I would expect from ICU nurses, however, I have a very special place in my heart for Ted because he had a level of compassion and nurturing (both for my husband and my family) that went beyond his duty.

I've had many experiences with ICU nurses due to hospital stays with family, and I have very high expectations of those caring for my family. I can say, with all my heart that Ted is among the very best that I've seen at any hospital. We are so very grateful for his care.