When I was hospitalized with pneumonia and a COPD exacerbation, it was a very stressful time due to both the severity of my illness and also because my father was simultaneously declining in a nursing home. I was fortunate to have an incredible nurse, Kulwinder Gill, caring for me over several days during my hospital stay.

A true gift that made Kulwinder stand out from the other nurses was her twinkling, smiling eyes. Since we were required to wear masks at that time, it was uplifting to see the joy that exuded from her eyes when she greeted me each morning. She was honest and forthright about my condition, giving me consistent updates on my progress and ensuring I received regular visits with both the pulmonologist and cardiologist. Whenever my heart rate would increase and set off the monitor alarm, she would come into my room and find ways to calm me down and connect, showing me pictures of her boys who were close in age to my own kids. She shared with me her experience with a recent bout of RSV which caused her to have heart palpitations, reassuring me that my cardiac condition would likely stabilize once the virus had run its course.

Kulwinder showed true compassion on my fifth morning in the hospital (the day I thought I would be going home), when the hospitalist decided to keep me another night due to my irregular heart rhythms. Meanwhile, my dad had just been moved to hospice and was fading fast. In tears, I showed Kulwinder a text my husband had sent of my dad, who was slipping into unconsciousness. Knowing I was not scheduled for a visit from the pulmonologist until after 6 PM, Kulwinder wasted no time in reaching out, urging him to come between his appointments that morning due to an emergency. She phoned both the pulmonologist and the hospitalist from her cell phone. The hospital released me later that evening on the grounds of family emergency. I truly believe this would not have happened had it not been for Kulwinder advocating on my behalf.

Thanks to her empathy and loving kindness, I was blessed to be able to say goodbye to my beloved dad, who passed away shortly after I saw him. Going above and beyond the call of duty, Kulwinder was right there beside me during one of the most difficult times in my life. She is truly an asset to this hospital.