Our 78-year-old father was just fine three weeks ago, driving to the market and going up and down the stairs of his house. Then he fell into severe fatigue one day, not eating, and high blood pressure. We brought him to Barnabas Health, and he needed a craniotomy.

Talk about extreme escalation of events. After his surgery and a short stay in the ICU, he was considerably weaker and tired. Nurse Danielle Villone welcomed him to the ward and took such good care of him, coming in every hour or two to check on him, offering us (his family) any amenities we may need, and always asking such a powerful question, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" During tough times when the future is uncertain, this one comment is the most reassuring gesture anyone can make, and it means so much more coming from a nurse. Danielle made sure my father was not in pain and that he was comfortable. She was patient with the language/speech barrier. She was gentle and loving, the way we would want our family to be cared for.

We are humbled and grateful for her commitment to the nursing profession and to her patients. As a healthcare provider myself, I learned a whole new side of the empathy and care that goes such a long way when illnesses hit close to home.