One of your nurses saved my mother’s life. She was a patient at your hospital for almost two months. She received the best care from the entire staff throughout her time, but this nurse in particular is one special nurse. When she was moved from ICU into her room Skyler cared for her that night. My mother can be needy and high maintenance, so she requires someone with a lot of patience. She had been through a lot and was medically progressing where she would be discharged the next day.

On the day of discharge, an emergency situation occurred with my mother and my mother was scared. She thought she was dying and was conscious the entire time. She was terrified and begged Skyler to hold her hand and not let go. My mother remembers every detail about this night up until the part when they sedated her and took her back to ICU. Unfortunately, some details are so gruesome that I wish she would forget them. As much trauma as she experienced, the thing she remembers most is the way this nurse made her feel during the entire two hours that it took to stabilize her.

This nurse showed my mother great compassion, respect, trust, and patience, and made her feel comfortable during this scary time. She exemplifies everything that a nurse should be; she is kind, smart, personable, and trustworthy. I’m sure that there were far more important things that she should have been doing during this emergency situation and instead of leaving my mother scared, she remained by my mother’s side and held her hand, while utilizing her charge nurse to assist her in things that she needed to do. It probably sounds silly to most but to my mother that is what it took for her to know that she was there, and everything was ok.

Her care for my mother did not stop this night. She visited my mother in ICU on more than one occasion to check on her and let her know she was thinking of her. To see and to hear from her overjoyed her with happiness. She was the sunshine on our darkest day. As I sit here days later, I am so grateful for her care, and sense of urgency and that God put her in our lives. I can’t help but think that if my mother was in a rehab clinic when this occurred, she probably wouldn’t be here with us right now.

I lost my dad weeks before my mother was admitted. Our family has been through a lot and the thought of losing my mother too was a feeling I can’t describe. A good friend of mine who is a nurse recommended I nominate Skyler for a DAISY Award. She shared with me that this Award recognizes extraordinary nurses. This nurse is extraordinary and my family can’t express enough our gratitude toward her and her heroic actions that night.