My daughter was admitted to the hospital to be treated for Burkitt's lymphoma. She was brought to the ICU from oncology after experiencing a rapid pulmonary edema. She spent two full weeks in the ICU on a ventilator and while there she was given really good care, however nothing compares to the care she received from this nurse.

She went above and beyond anything I could have wanted for my daughter. She was caring, loving, and compassionate every single minute and treated my girl with so much dignity and compassion that is not what I ever thought I would see, however, I am Blessed to have witnessed. She was methodical and went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. She noticed horrible sores in my girl's vaginal area, and when she suspected it wasn't yeast, she called in wound care and they confirmed her suspicion. I watched her sit for hours, learning how to best care for the wounds caused by the mucositis that had affected both the mouth and vagina. She was vigilant in the care and did her best to ensure that all others would follow her wound care protocol set up. She even went as far as to post the protocol above her bed to ensure that all would see and follow it.

When it got closer and closer to her being removed from the vent, I watched her talk to the doctor extensively about her recommendation for a transfer to the cardiac unit so that she could receive the best care possible while recovering from the edema. He listened and it was done. She made sure that when she was no longer her nurse that others knew her story and would follow her care plan and because of her attention to detail, we believe healing took place faster than it might have otherwise.

She was orderly and efficient in everything she did and at a point when my girl showed distress, she took steps to ensure her emotional wellbeing and provided constant reassurance. She always informed her of what she was doing, and she kept me informed as well. To say that she established a special connection with our family would be an understatement, as she provided emotional support beyond our wildest dreams while being the consummate professional. Her compassion and thoughtfulness were instrumental in my girl's healing and my not breaking down during the most difficult time ever. Her advocacy demonstrated her energy and passion to providing the best care possible over and over again, even when she was not responsible for my daughter's care, and I am forever grateful for that. She answered any and all questions we had and at a point when there was extra concern about possible infection, she addressed my concerns and called on security to help ensure that no one brought in anything that might be causing a problem.

I could go on and on as there just doesn't seem to be enough of the right stuff to relay just how incredible she is. If there is something greater than this recognition, she is certainly deserving.