Alyssa gave our dad (the patient) hope. She saw that our father was frightened and struck up a conversation of hope and survival and told him we would call the condition "reduced heart function" instead of heart failure until he could be comfortable knowing it wasn't an immediate death sentence. She explained and made sure the whole family understood upcoming tests and results.
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Alyssa's comforting words greatly improved the patient's spirits and his outcome in the families' eyes. Through a seemingly "normal" conversation, she was able to bring out questions, needs, and fears that their dad would normally not voice. She then quietly solved any issues she could with compassion to the patient and the family.