Sylvia Mach
February 2024
Sylvia
Mach
,
RN
2W
Harborview Medical Center
Seattle
,
WA
United States

 

 

 

We appreciate Sylvia so much because of her medical skill, but more for how she was able to give us the care we needed during this tragic loss.
Recently, our family lost my brother, B, 30, to a freak accident resulting in a catastrophic brain injury. On Sunday, B was transferred to the neuro ICU, where Sylvia was our nurse for the first two days. Sylvia took good care of B, but more so, she fielded the first 24 hours of extremely difficult processing felt by our family and friends, especially B’s mom. B’s body stayed on after he was declared brain dead, and since he was an organ donor, we were there for the next four days until his honor walk on Thursday. Sylvia and the entire nursing unit made so many accommodations that were critical to our family and B’s friends in being able to say goodbye. My parents did not want to leave B’s side, so Sylvia found a recliner. There were so many friends wanting to say goodbye that we most assuredly exceeded the limit often. We appreciate Sylvia so much because of her medical skill, but more for how she was able to give us the care we needed during this tragic loss. Sylvia is an exceptional nurse, and we could not have been blessed with a more perfect fit to support our family.