My husband was admitted to the ICU. That night, around 11:00 pm, he had a STEMI and went to the Cath Lab, where he coded two more times. He was put on the Impella device to keep him alive long enough for our daughter to drive from Arkansas. We were in Nacogdoches visiting friends. Our home is in Florida. You can imagine my feelings in a strange town during a life-changing event. The nurse who was in charge of the Impella device was Todd Powell. He stayed with me all night until his shift was over. Looking back on this experience, I was in a state of shock, trying to emotionally process that there was no way my husband could survive. His pupils were fixed and dilated, and as an RN myself, I was trying to justify in my mind the need to withdraw care.

Todd was friendly and professional, explaining what the team did in the Cath lab for my husband. Todd identified with me in this upcoming loss, with his own experience of losing a close family member. Talking with him through the night was like having a friend with me. I felt alone, not having my pastor, nursing peers, friends, and doctors by my side. He told me about the many years he had been working in cardiac care. I could tell he loved his job and the patients in his care.

I am forever grateful to Todd. Todd qualifies for the DAISY Award based on the following:

1- Knowledge of cardiac care.
2-Professionalism in his care for my husband, explaining everything to me because I am not a critical care nurse.
3-Compassion for the situation that he saw I was in. He did not distance himself from my pain and tears as many can do when death is close and they do not know what to say.
4-Friendliness and talking to me through the night like a good friend would do, even though he had never met us before.

I will never forget the great care we received at NMC.