I stood in an Intensive Care room of the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and made a promise to myself. I vowed to learn about the DAISY Award that I'd seen mentioned on numerous notices displayed throughout the hospital during the past two months while my mother was a patient there. I knew it was imperative that I give some recognition to the amazing ICU nurse, Cheryl Kyte, who was caring for my mother. There were so many nurses and other medical personnel at this hospital that I could have been nominated for this award. The overall care my mother received was wonderful and so very much appreciated. Cheryl, however, needs to be honored for her compassion and her selflessness in caring for my mother.

The day before my parent's 61st wedding anniversary, my mother's condition was extremely serious, and she could not communicate very well. When she was admitted to the ICU and in Cheryl's care, she was on the last day of a Covid quarantine, so my father and I and the rest of our family were unable to be with her. Cheryl coordinated and carried out FaceTime telephone calls between my mother and our family and patiently and lovingly translated both ends of the conversation when necessary until we were able to come to visit after the quarantine ended.

In addition, when I got to meet Cheryl in person, she pulled me aside and made me aware of a conversation she had with my mother the previous evening. My mother was able to tell Cheryl some of her final wishes which is unfortunately a topic of discussion that had never come up in our family in the past. Because of Cheryl's extraordinary empathy, we were able to learn that my mother wished to be cremated and her ashes scattered in the beloved orchard behind our family's home. The fact that Cheryl took the time to carefully listen to my mother to learn this information and then share it with us is one of the purest acts of love and kindness that I have ever known, especially since Cheryl shared with me that her own mother has a terminal illness. How difficult must that conversation have been for her?

My mother passed away in the hospice area of the hospital the day after she and my father celebrated their 61st anniversary. Theirs was a 61-year love story, and thanks to the loving-kindness of ICU nurse, Cheryl Kyte, we could honor my mother's life and their love in the way my mother wanted. I know there are other nurses deserving of this award - we've met many - but I had to fulfill the promise I made in that ICU room three months ago. At the very least if you could convey this message and our thanks to Cheryl it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the extraordinary care your hospital network provides. God Bless!