Patrick Lancaster shines a bright light on many patients and families. His light shone brightly toward our family. My father, the 89-year-old patriarch of our family, entered the ICU after years of declining health and a cardiac incident. Patrick cared for our father and mom’s husband of almost 65 years in the final hours of his life. I am the daughter who stayed by Dad’s side; my other sister was in another room at Catawba Valley Medical Center, caring for my mother, who was also admitted to the hospital.

I met Patrick for the first time on the day of Dad’s death. Patrick was the nurse assigned to Dad, whose kidney function had ceased. Patrick would be by Dad’s side as he was weaned off life-support systems. Patrick showed such genuine care. He asked me, “Tell me about your dad.” He was interested in who he was as a person since Dad, unconscious, could not communicate for himself. Patrick asked many questions and was amazed that Dad received a full scholarship to college after playing high school football for only two years. He sensed that my dad, an educator whose parents had died by the time he was 16 years old, was an extraordinary man. He sensed rightly. I trusted him to treat my father with honor and grace. And he did.

Dad passed around 4 am. He just slipped away.

The funeral home director who came to receive Dad’s body told me that he and Patrick had a warm and uplifting conversation about Dad at that time. Even as his body was being taken away, Dad was being honored.

Fast forward two years later, I kept thinking about Patrick and spoke about him to the critical care nursing director at CVMC. I wanted to make contact with Patrick one more time to say thank you. I received Patrick’s email and reached out to him. He responded, and we met in the CVMC lobby one evening. I will never forget our meeting. I gave him a program from Dad’s Celebration of Life service. A beautiful picture of Dad was displayed on the cover. Patrick looked at it and said, “I remember him.” He then looked more intently at the picture and said, “He was a good man!” He began to weep. And so did I.

In my heart, I know that Patrick’s presence helped my dad peacefully exit the earth and enter his eternal reward. You see, my dad was a giver, a helper, a compassionate man. And it only stands to reason that a person of great stature should care for another person of great stature at his departure.

When I learned of the DAISY Award, I knew I needed to nominate Patrick Lancaster. If there is anyone who represents the heart of nursing, it is Patrick. He has forever made an impression on me and our family. He stood with us, as he has many others, and gave his very best! Our family owes an eternal debt of gratitude! He is a jewel.