My family and I truly feel Phil was sent to us as an angel. Hero does not say enough. My mother fainted on a Thursday evening and landed directly on her head, causing hemorrhaging in the brain, swelling, a fractured skull causing air to get in the brain, and a hairline fracture on her occipital socket. My mother is a strong woman, she fought through 6 retinal detachments to keep her eyesight, made it through endless rounds of chemo to beat stage 3 breast cancer, and even needed a shoulder replacement because the radiation after chemo destroyed her whole shoulder. She raised two children (myself and my brother), and she takes care of not just her own but everyone and anyone she meets. She greets everyone with a “Hi honey,” is involved in her community, and is unwaveringly loyal to not just her family but a perfect stranger who would need her help. I have learned not only how to be a strong woman from my mother, but how to be a role model to those around me, and always above everything, give and never take. I say all of this as to who my mother was before the fall (and we pray she gets back to one day) because that is exactly who Phil is (aside from the medical battles, of course).

We got Phil as our night nurse the second night my mother was in the ICU. She was still on 4-hour surgery watch from Nuero, was in restraints because she was causing danger to herself, and needed watch 24/7. My brother and I lived at the hospital, taking turns sleeping and watching Mom, but through each night that weekend, Phil was always right next to us. He cared for my mother as if she were his own. We even shared stories about our mothers and their need to always have their lipstick on, and that meant they were ready for the day. My mom was not her “Hi honey” self when Phil was with her, she wasn’t able to connect with him like she is all others she meets and impacts, but that didn’t matter for Phil. He was connected, attentive, and caring from the start.

Because of the state my mother was in, he ended up caring not just for her but for my brother, me, and my entire family, some of whom didn’t even have the chance to meet him because of the night shift. The many family members, those who could visit or those who couldn’t, friends, and community members who knew and loved my mom all asked each day how she was doing, and when we told them, “Phil’s on tonight,” it gave all of us a little sense of calm. He connected with not just my mother but each of us who had walked into her room. With his knowledge, his understanding, and his advocacy for her, I am forever grateful and will forever remember Phil. Phil, I hope you one day can realize the impact you have had on my mom and her entire family. You are an amazing human being, an amazing nurse, and our hero.