For 18 months, our otherwise strong and healthy 17-year-old son, had been undergoing treatments for a cancerous brain tumor that had suddenly spread. On the night before he passed away, his overnight nurse, Abby, tended to him with a loving and compassionate level of care we'd never seen before. Our beloved teenage son was experiencing discomfort and confusion, but Abby was right by his bedside, holding his hand, addressing his physical discomfort, and gently consoling and encouraging him. She gently talked to him as only a mother could. Although we, as parents, emotionally struggled with not knowing how to best help our son, Abby patiently and knowledgeably guided him through the long, difficult minutes of his declining faculties. She repeatedly took the brunt of his unexpected issues that night, allowing us to focus more on the moments when he was lucid, peaceful, and not struggling as much. Abby also took extra effort to listen to our parental concerns and comforted us as well. She waited until our boy was in a calm and stable condition before taking her meal break. When his condition briefly worsened, though, she interrupted her meal to return to his room and comfort him and tend to him even though other nurses were also providing assistance. 

As her shift concluded, we told her how above and beyond her care was and the blessing it was to our family to have her attending so beautifully to our son’s challenges during dark and troubling hours. Other staff mentioned to us later that Abby was asked to come in on her day off just for our son, and she agreed. Such a coordinated and thoughtful approach to our boy’s most difficult days of care will never be forgotten.