My beloved mother suffered a significant brain bleed. She was the light of our lives. My mom was a young seventy-five-year-old woman who had no predisposing health factors. We had no warning or any reason to believe such a tragedy would strike our family. My mom was the most loving, kind, and compassionate person who spent her life caring selflessly for her children and grandchildren. She had a beautiful, loving bond with her five grandchildren and played a tremendous role in their lives. 

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the nurses on 4 West Oncology, especially Whitney Stengl. Whitney was the first nurse to care for my mother. We were exhausted and scared and had made one of the hardest decisions of our lives that day by making my mom comfort measures only. I was determined to stay at the bedside with my mom, not leaving her until she passed. Whitney was amazing, knowing exactly what I needed in order to feel at peace with this decision. She was attentive to my mother's needs, making sure she was comfortable, warm (my mom was always cold), and not in pain. She brought blankets and pillows for me as she knew I would be staying for as long as needed in the room. Whitney even brought me a toothbrush and toothpaste, which was the one normal thing I did for myself in those agonizing days. She exuded tenderness and empathy, traits that I believe cannot be learned. She talked to my mother in a way that brought me comfort. She was gentle and spoke softly telling my mom everything she was going to do before she did it. She made sure my mom received her medication as ordered and checked on us continuously, even though the floor was extremely busy. On the second day, Whitney was assigned to my mother again. This time, she arrived in her room with a large bag of snacks and drinks and a plant for both my sister and me. Whitney had never met us before, yet she showed concern as if we were her family, and she will never know how much that meant to us.

My mother had a peaceful, beautiful passing, and I attribute that to the kindness, compassion, and professionalism of these amazing nurses. They truly cushioned the pain of what will always be a tremendous loss to our family. I really hope you will consider honoring them both. My words of gratitude pale in comparison to the way my family felt having them care for my dear mother.