My mother was admitted and quickly moved throughout UMass; between the ED, 8th floor, multiple ICU departments, and many procedures in between. She ended up on 7ICU and was lucky enough to have Jason Eisenmenger as one of her primary caregivers over a long holiday weekend. While my mother's condition had many ups and downs, Jason was always helpful, informative, and patient with our questions and concerns. During the last two days of the admission, her health took a drastic turn just before shift change on a holiday. Once my father and I were able to enter the room and speak with her care team, Jason made an extra effort in between caring for my very sick family member, to also check in on my father (the patient's husband) to see how he was holding up. Jason stayed a bit after his shift while things were still extremely heightened medically - and before he left for the evening made a point to come over to my father and I to offer his well wishes and support for my mother. I noticed the look of concern on his face when he exited the room, and truly spoke to his character and professionalism as a nurse within UMass.

This man cared, and he did not even know any of us. Now, before I delve further here; my father is in his late 60's, fairly active, but does have some mobility issues due to an injury of his own. We usually try to get him to sit at much as possible so he does not fall or trip and hurt himself. Jason noticed my fathers needs, and was quick to grab him a chair, water, or box of tissues when needed. During my mother's last day, Jason again was her nurse. They brought her in for a procedure that took quite some time, while a large group of our family waited anxiously in the waiting room. Jason coming out to check in with us every so often, in between caring for the many other sick patients within the 7ICU department. Once my mother was brought back up to her room, Jason brought us by the bedside to have the MD, Resident and care team give us a status update; which certainly was not the update we wanted to hear, but knew it was likely heading there.

Jason was helpful in this very intense moment, where we needed to make some critical decisions medically. He offered support, thoughts, and helped us navigate through this change together. Once we made the decision for my mother, Jason sprang into action; he had a plan for my mother, for her husband, for myself, and our family. Group by group, we all came in, said our goodbyes, and switched groups of family up. Jason being right outside the door, or in the room with us, making sure my mother was as ok and she can be, and making sure us (the family) would be as ok as we could be.

After her passing, my father and I sat in the room together, just talking about her life, our life, and anything else that came up. I stepped out to use the restroom, and Jason gave my father a few minutes alone, and then came in to check in on him. Jason sat there with my father for a few minutes, just talking to him about his wife, talking about me - their child -, my father's hobbies, pets, family; honestly you name it they probably talked about it. I'm sure Jason was thrilled that I returned as you can probably imagine how much a 68-year-old man loves to talk about his "project car" haha. All in all, Jason truly made the worst day of our lives a bit less heavy. Jason is an exceptional human, nurse, and overall seems like a great asset to the UMass family.