My mom was in the ICU for 3 weeks before she passed with her family by her side.  Mom had major surgery to remove a serious infection from a dead kidney.  She was doing very well the day after her surgery, but two days later she went into cardiac arrest and was on a ventilator and support meds for the next 2 weeks until they did a tracheostomy.  The last week, Mom’s bowel twisted.  Najah was there with Mom after her heart stopped. Mom was coherent and her mind was intact.  Najah got to know my mom as a person. She understood that mom was anxious and made sure she was comfortable and communicated information in a way to help keep her calm. Najah took the time to understand what my mom was asking or what my mom needed, reading her lips with the ventilator and then using an alphabet.
 
Everything with Mom was a balancing act between the blood pressure meds, pain meds, tube feeding, then dialysis, and more.  Najah was on top of it all while patiently answering our questions and finding answers she would not have had. She comforted not only Mom but also our family.  When Najah was with Mom, we felt confident that Mom was in the best hands. Dad was insistent that a family member was at the hospital at all times during visiting hours with Mom.  There was a day that Najah insisted that Dad and I take a break and get lunch for a change of scenery.  We took her advice, knowing that she would be attentive to what mom needed and take the time to make sure that when mom was trying to communicate, it was taken care of. 
 
Mom was very witty, and Najah saw this side of her and joked with my mom.  She made my mom smile and kept her spirits up.  Mom was the epitome of kindness and love.  She cared deeply for those in her life.  The connection she had with Najah was evident, and the special person Najah is really shined through with the care she gave my mother.  Najah is a nurse who goes beyond the care that a patient needs.  She gets to know who the patient truly is as a person and also their family, and approaches every situation with that in mind.  Najah is a genuinely kind and selfless person who goes above and beyond her duties as a nurse.  She took care of our mom as if she was caring for her own mother.  This is not just a job to her.  It’s so much more!  She deserves every recognition for her devotion to being the best nurse for her patients.