Some people call it destiny, others fate, others a chance, but through a horrible circumstance Amanda and I were brought together as her being my mom's nurse during her last three days of life. I truly believe it was the blessing I needed in that moment of time, not only for her to be my mother's nurse, but to walk with me during this very hard time; it really felt like Amanda was there for me during that time of need. Just days before I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, to compassionately let my mom go with the hopes of her being able to donate. 

Amanda was my mom's nurse during her last three days of life and she treated my mom with such compassion. From the simplest things of still talking to her as a human even though she was on the vent and nonresponsive. She took time to wash and do her hair. I know these are simple tasks nurses do, but sitting there at my mother's bedside, it was comforting to still see my mom being treated like a human.

Once we started moving forward with donate life I asked Amanda about an Honor Walk and if that was something they did. I talked about what we did during our Honor Walk at the hospital I work at and the meaning behind it. Right away Amanda was very much, "Yes we are going to do this for your mother. If I am here, I will gather staff for a walk. If I am not here, I will make sure the shifts know and to gather staff for a walk for your mother." The fact she was willing to do this for my mother and wanted to honor her donating, made my heart so happy. Amanda saw the importance of this Honor Walk, the meaning behind it, and the meaning for me and made sure this was going to happen and she did. The time came when my mom was going to be taken down to the OR and she gathered staff lining the hallway to the OR elevators. The staff stood there honoring my mom as she was being wheeled to the OR elevators and this was all because of Amanda. 

The hours leading up to my mom's OR time to hopefully donate, the time changed from day shift to night shift. After getting to know a few of the night shift nurses I asked Amanda if one of them was going to be working that night because I would love for them to be my mom's nurse that night. Amanda let me know that nurse was going to be working that night, but also let me know she had offered to stay over extra that night if the unit was short and to care for my mom all the way through compassionately extubating my mom in the OR. I let her know I would be honored for either her or the night shift nurse to be with my mom through the end. I was taken aback by the generosity of Amanda offering to stay extra. I know it isn't always easy for nurses to stay extra, but for Amanda being willing to stay extra to be with my mom until the end, shows the compassion Amanda has for her patients. It shows the selfless act on Amanda's part. Handing off to the night shift and to another nurse could have been the easy thing to do, but Amanda chose to stay over and be with my mom. Amanda kept reminding me she is going to be with my mom until she takes her last breath in the OR. That her role is to make sure my mom is comfortable and is not suffering. 

The time came for my mom to be wheeled down to the OR. We got out of her room and staff were lining the hallway to the OR elevators for the Honor Walk for my mom that Amanda made happen. Amanda was right there next to my mom the whole time as the night shift nurse I had gotten to know walked with me right behind my mom the whole way to the elevators. Amanda made it happen that I was able to ride down the elevator with them to be able to say my final goodbye to my mom and watch her go into the OR. All of this Amanda didn't have to do. She could have just left it at me saying my final goodbye before my mom went down the elevator, but with the compassion and care Amanda has, she was able to get it to work out. Amanda once again reassured me she was going to be with my mom in the OR until she took her last breath, making sure she was comfortable throughout the way. She let me know she would come find me once everything was done, and that is what she did. After getting the call from One Legacy that my mom had taken her final breath, shortly after Amanda did come to find me like she said she would. She comforted me knowing that I had just lived out my greatest fear of losing my mom and was having a hard time with just walking out of the hospital after spending the last week almost 24/7 at my mom's bedside, but also having a hard time just walking out of the hospital without my mom going home.

Amanda was only my mom's nurse her last three days, but those last three days of her being my mom's nurse left such a big impact on me. She showed so much compassion for what she does as a nurse for not only caring for my mom (the patient) but caring for me as the family member. Amanda was always checking in on me, making sure I was doing well, and always taking care of myself. She listened to the wishes I had for my mom and our last moments together and made them happen. There are so many things Amanda did that she didn't have to do during those three days. She didn't have to take time to wash my mom's hair. She didn't have to make sure my mom had an Honor Walk to the OR. She didn't have to make sure I had a special last goodbye with my mom before going into the OR. She didn't have to offer to stay over extra to be with my mom. And she for sure didn't have to come and see me one last time after my mom passed away.  

When I think of the DAISY Award, I think of Amanda. During those three days she provided care through compassion and excellence and I am truly grateful Amanda walked in as my mom's nurse.