My husband was in the ER because he was in brady A-fib. The ER was slammed. It took hours and hours before we were called to the back and then my husband was placed on a gurney in the hall along with lots of other people. It was around 7 or later, I think. My husband's heart rate was frighteningly low (25 - 30). We were both exhausted and depleted; neither of us had eaten all day but all we could think of was my husband's low heart rate. All the staff did a good job, but one nurse stood out: Sydney Allen.

Even though there were so many patients needing care, she performed her job cheerfully and thoroughly. (Our daughter is a nurse, and our son-in-law is a cardiac ICU nurse, so my husband and I knew how things should be). What really made Sydney stand out was that, somehow, although she had multiple patients, she never made us feel rushed. She patiently answered our questions, and, most importantly, she was sweet and empathetic. She cared - really cared -about not only my husband's physical well-being but also about both of us as people. She was sensitive, encouraging, and warm. When I mentioned that we hadn't eaten all day, she could have pointed me to the nearest vending machine, but she didn't. She waited until the cafeteria opened (it was 10pm) and brought us a wonderful sandwich and great French fries. I'm pretty sure she did it on her break because there was no time to rest for the staff. Then it dawned on me that she had made a comment about when the cafeteria opened, and I realized that she had squeezed in the time to do this for us so that I didn't have to leave my husband. It was beyond caring that she took her time to get us the food when she had so much else going on. Then, when I asked her what we owed her, she said nothing. My husband saw right through her and realized that she had paid for our food out of her own money! It may seem silly, but that act of compassion brought tears to my eyes. What a special young lady!

She not only gave my husband great care, but she gave us the most precious gifts of all: love and understanding. How does someone who is covered up with work find it in herself to go way beyond her job description and tune in to our fear and stress? This young lady turned what had been a nerve-wracking experience into one cloaked in comfort and love. In today's world, very rarely do people take the time to really look into someone's heart and thoughts and care about what they see there. We will never forget what this sweet nurse did for us that evening. While everyone did a good job that night, Sydney is the one who really made a difference. If anyone deserves this award, it is Sydney Allen.