My mom was brought to the ER by ambulance for a pressure ulcer. We were all distraught over the situation. Our nurse, Heather Skidmore, was very professional and quickly assessed the situation and started giving Mom the care she needed. However, Heather provided much more than professional medical care. She treated my mom with kindness, compassion, and dignity. Mom has Alzheimer's Disease, and it has become our experience that most people, even medical professionals, are somewhat uncomfortable attempting to communicate with her; Heather was not. She called my mom by her name, not "sweetheart" or "honey" as many people do. She listened carefully and took her time with my mom. She patiently worked for a long time to get an IV line in, and although I know she had other rooms she was attending, when she was in Mom's room, she was 100% present and focused on Mom.
When it was time for Mom to move upstairs, she got frightened and teary. Heather gently reassured her and calmed her down. She had already called up and made sure they knew she really likes soup and cranberry juice. After reassuring Mom, Heather bent and kissed my mom on the forehead. There may be a hundred reasons to not do that, but it ministered deeply to Mom and us.
We want to thank and recognize Heather for her compassion, for allowing my mom her dignity, for her medical skills, and most of all for her heart.