The night my husband was admitted to the ICU he was gravely ill. Nurse Holly was given the responsibility. A warrior, she began hanging meds, checking connections, following his response to meds. She never sat down. Constantly moving, seeing what needed to happen next, reacting with professionalism and care. While this was going on, she cared for me and my daughters. We were stunned; a man who had worked that morning, was now fighting for his life. She knew we were overwhelmed, scared, and exhausted. She took on our pain and responded with sympathy, understanding, and confidence. She knew what we needed, too. Even after Holly went to another patient, she took time to check in and see how we were doing. Her care and compassion were beyond our expectations, and we appreciated it very much. On behalf of S. and family, thank you, Holly, for being a tremendous nurse.

A total rock star, Kym spent so much time with my husband, talking to him, touching him, and trying to elicit a response from him. We knew by this time that my husband was in trouble. He was not responding well to treatment, and things were not going well. Kym was fighting for him, talking to him, and involving us in his care, and now, in retrospect, allowing us to say our goodbyes. She explained what was happening with each step she was taking. Adding new meds, stopping others. She spoke to him as though he was sitting in the room and speaking to us all. So caring, yet so professional. She eased us into the next phase of his life, his potential death, with care and compassion. Kym, we appreciate all you did for S. and our family. Thank you.

By the time we met Shantel, we knew that my husband was fighting for his life. The ventilator was horrifying, his body full of tubes, every major blood access site being used to deliver medication. My daughter and I were exhausted and fearful. Shantel then began talking to my husband as though he was sitting next to her on a bench. The weather, the fact that we were there with him, if it was day or night, and what her every move was when treating him. He was a person, and she was visiting with him, trying so hard to elicit responses from him. She explained everything she was doing for him to us to keep us informed as well. We felt included in his treatment, his life, and the fight he was in. She answered every question we had as though she had all the time in the world, despite the fact that she was very busy. Thank you, Shantel, for seeing S. as a person who meant the world to our family and not just as another patient.

Please let all the ICU staff know how much we appreciate everything they did to help our husband and father. We could not have asked for more!