Nurses don't choose their assignments, and nurses do not commonly volunteer to take on my patients for reasons that have been made too clear to me in the past. So when my favorite uncle became ill, it was more than reassuring that my aunt could rely on a single nurse to give her the relief of knowing that her life partner was going to receive the care in the same manner as the care she had provided to him the last fifty years. When Edgar Ibarra was on duty, my aunt could breathe easier, even if my uncle could not; she could sleep; she felt it was safe enough to leave the hospital knowing my uncle would not die as she took care of her own needs. Since I had nothing to offer that would mend my broken uncle, it was this kind of care that healed the painful steps we eventually took. And while all the nurses were very responsive to my aunt's and uncle's needs (for which my aunt and I are very thankful), it was Edgar Ibarra who stood out. He is the embodiment of nursing: kindness, compassion, caring, engaging. He does the heavy lifting with the quiet grace to repeat it all again, each day. He was able to offer my aunt peace and reassurance that everything that could be done was done in the manner and dignity that all dying patients deserve. I did not know Edgar Ibarra, RN prior to our stay. But now will never forget who he is.