Our 22-year-old daughter has special needs and functions like a 5-year-old mentally. We were presented with her getting sick and needing admission to the ICU. Out first full 24 hours in the ICU left us with lots of emotions and felt like we were on a roller coaster. A team of techs and nurses were in my daughter's room trying to get labs on her. Unfortunately, this team did not take into consideration that she processed everything on a 5-year-old level. We were telling her to hold still, etc., when all she was processing was the fight or flight. After 12 repeated sticks, I finally told them to stop. Nurse Cornn came into her room (he was not assigned as her nurse); he told the team of techs and nurses in the room to give my daughter a break and to consider her comfort. He even went as far as suggesting different options to be able to obtain the labs needed. He then spent time calming my daughter down and taking into consideration her disability. After things had settled, he then knelt beside me and showed true compassion and concern for me. He went as far as spending time to pray with me and pray for my daughter. What stood out the most at that time was that he apologized for what happened. He owned the other techs' and nurses' behaviors when he did not have anything to do with what was happening. He was the only person in the room to say "I am sorry". He did not have to own to others' behaviors, but he did, and he showed true empathy.

Over the next several days, Nurse Cornn was assigned to my daughter. I saw true compassion and advocacy from him for her every day. He was not afraid to speak up during rounds to make suggestions for her safety and comfort. In the past, when she has been in the hospital, I never left her side. In the mornings, when I knew he was going to be there, I was confident enough that I was able to leave and take care of myself and know she would be well cared for and watched over. Every night before he left, he would make sure my daughter's needs were met and that our needs were also met. Nurse Cornn is a picture of what it is all about. He showed true compassion and advocacy for my daughter and our family. He made a not-so-great situation easier and left a lasting impression on our hearts.