I will share why I feel Jose is special. One hears about “angels among us”. I regard Jose as my “angel” who helped me through what I view as the worst event in my life. My husband of fifty years was dying of complications due to Covid-19. He was moved to room 6022 which was a comfort care room. When I called the ward the morning after my husband was moved there, I was transferred to Jose, who was my husband’s Nurse. Jose took time to talk to me, informed me of my husband’s condition, explained his care, and the hospital’s visiting policy.

When I went to see my husband, Jose was there to greet me and helped me suit up before entering the room. Jose expressed concern on how I was doing and showed his concern for me daily. My husband was unresponsive, but his room was clean, bright, and cheerful with the curtains open. Jose explained how my husband would be kept comfortable and cared for. Jose was his nurse the three days my husband was there. He and others kept my husband clean and well taken care of.

When I requested that the TV be left on because my husband did not like quiet, Jose passed that message on and the TV stayed on. When the doctor suggested a Covid test, Jose explained why it was a good thing to do because he told me it could make a difference at the end. When the test came back negative, Jose informed me that with hospice care I could take my husband home and spend all the time I wanted with him and not be tied to hospital rules. I did not know that was even a possibility. Jose quickly got the doctor’s approval and with the help of other people at Banner Hospice my husband was transported home.

My two daughters and I were able to spend my husband’s last twenty-seven hours with him. I will be forever grateful that Jose was J’s nurse at the end and helped give my daughters and I the gift of being with my husband and their dad, so he did not have to die alone.

Thank you, Jose.