My dad was in the ICU for many nights. During his stay, this nurse was his bedside nurse for six of those nights- the first three and the last three. His care for my dad as a patient was outstanding. He took great care of him physically, but even more importantly, he took care of him as a person. He encouraged him to fight for recovery and added joy to his life. Not only did he encourage him, but he also encouraged our family with his positive energy every time he entered the room. His presence energized us after long, emotionally draining days and left us feeling a little bit lighter. It was clear to our family that Dad had developed a bond with him, which became very evident the last full night. The goal was to keep my dad comfortable, and he instructed our family on the physical signs that would indicate he needed medication. At one point, we couldn’t get him to respond to us when we repeatedly asked if he was in any pain, so we brought him in to check on him. Literally, as soon as he asked my dad if he was hurting, he perked right up and shook his head no. He continued talking to him about non-medical things, and my dad just looked up at him and beamed at him the entire time. It blessed our family so much to see Dad lighthearted and smiling. Finally, he also always showed great care for our whole family.