My wife, mother of three, and 21-year police detective, was admitted to UCHealth Greeley, with complications from thrombocytopenia coupled with a pre-diagnosed autoimmune liver from 2016 proved to be a perfect storm. I call it a storm because a storm has no boundaries and will destroy what is in its path with no remorse, empathy, or reason. After days of treatment with platelet transfusions, steroids, and IVIG, nothing was working. Her body was killing itself. L developed a spontaneous brain bleed, where she was then transported to the Anschutz Neuro ICU where numerous medical staff began treating, monitoring, trying to figure out a fix. The last words my wife spoke to me in the evening were, "I love you. Take care of the babies." Looking at the worry on my face she said, "I will be ok, I'm at Anschutz." The next day, the storm hit. L collapsed from ARDS and was immediately intubated and sedated. I thought I would not speak to her again. This day turned into two surgeries. One on her brain and the second to embolize her spleen. Everyone in the room, surgeons, doctors, nurses knew what the risk was and the odds were against all of us. After several hours of sitting in an indescribable fog, I was approached by numerous staff and told she made it through the surgeries. She was in critical condition but alive. Coming to Anschutz Neuro ICU every day in my three-hour commute, you start to recognize faces and names. Putting the trust in someone with the life of your loved one is a difficult task. Slowly I observed how amazing the Neuro ICU really was. Every day is filled with rounds, the plan for the day discussed, and all the contingency plans. The compassion, empathy, and caring towards L and myself were truly special.

I spent quite a bit of time with Chelsey. Doing what she could my wife while also recognizing how bad I was struggling with it all. She was constantly checking on my well-being about eating, sleeping, and taking care of myself. She would listen and then engage in follow-up conversations about our previous discussions. Chelsey spent a lot of time explaining things, good or bad with an exceptional gift of compassion.

On two separate occasions, Chelsey went out of her way to comfort me and bring some positive light to our unfortunate situation. When L struggled to wean from the vent and Chelsey helped ease my fears of a trach, reassuring me it was best for L to recover. After the trach was placed we were able to decrease sedation. I waited all day for her to wake up. Later that night Chelsey called me and said, "T this Chelsey, this is not an emergency, L responded to my commands and is nodding, I knew you would want to know that".

Chelsey should be recognized for her dedication, compassion, empathy, and spirit. The staff in the Anschutz Neuro ICU is unparalleled. The surgeons, doctors, PAs, Nurses, CNAs, and RTs truly define the best of the best. Everyone played a part in saving the life of my children's mother, my wife. Thank you for saving my L.