We had a patient that was a mother and was in a very bad car accident along with her 6 or 7 year old daughter who also was very critically injured. The mother ended up being brain-dead, and this was a devastating situation for the husband. After we confirmed, our family decided to do organ donation. Trisha was there for the husband and family through it all. After the patient was taken to the OR for core, he just collapsed in the hallway, sitting by the surgery doors, crying.

Trisha just sat on the floor beside him in silence, being with him. These days, nurses don’t typically have time to just be there sometimes for the family or patient with all the charting and responsibilities, but she just sat there right beside him to let him know she was there for him. It was very touching. I couldn’t imagine being faced with losing your spouse and then also maybe your daughter. She demonstrated compassion and care that went beyond her normal duties.