Nurse Brenda Shehata was my mother's nurse when she was first admitted to the TNICU and a few times throughout her two-week-long stay. Upon her admission, my mother was in critical condition, having suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in the cerebellum part of her brain. Our family was scared and confused and, naturally, had a million questions buzzing through our minds out of concern for my mother. Brenda was empathetic, understanding, and patient; she listened to our concerns, answered our questions, and provided updates on my mom’s condition that helped alleviate our anxiety and allowed us to trust in the care she was receiving.

Brenda was highly knowledgeable, attentive, and detail-oriented; she was able to explain even the most complex concepts to us in a way that we could easily understand and swiftly responded to changes in my mother’s condition. Brenda was also caring and kind; her efforts went beyond medical treatment. She added a personal touch to every interaction with my mother and my family, making this extremely challenging time a little more manageable for us.

Brenda noticed that my mother’s spirits were quite low after undergoing a craniotomy and ventriculostomy, so she encouraged us to play music in my mother’s room and put a sign on the window that said, “D’s Blues Room.” Brenda worked with the night nurse team to ensure that my mother’s hair was washed and braided after her surgery, a simple gesture that went a long way in our eyes. Each time Brenda came in the room to check on my mother, she took a moment to ask us, her family, if we needed anything too. Brenda is an exemplary nurse; her unwavering commitment to excellence and providing compassionate care embodies the true spirit of nursing. She took a terrible, scary situation and provided us with a sense of calm and confidence, and we will always be grateful for the difference she made in my mother’s and our lives.