I cannot begin to list why Ruth was so important to us. She treated L, my husband, with respect and dignity. She read his mood, knowing when to joke with him, when to encourage him and when a little tough love was just what he needed.
Since I stayed with L, Ruth ensured I had the supplies I needed to be comfortable, but she also was awesome at making a plan for the evening and stuck to it.
She would check on us overnight without being intrusive. She made sure the door didn't make any noise and didn't turn on the light. She knew L's sleep was important and so was mine. She safeguarded sleep for both of us. For L, a good night's sleep meant he would do better in therapy, be more likely to have energy to eat and it meant for me that the weight of our situation was a little less heavy the next day.
Another thing Ruth did was notice and praise improvements in L's condition. She also gently nudged him toward independence, as it was appropriate. On the nights Ruth was our nurse, we both felt cared for and safe.