As a family dealing with an acute stroke, there are days of conflicting emotions. You get some good news, and five minutes later, another test comes in that shows a brain bleed, or later another test comes in that shows a brain bleed, or concerning vitals. Over hours of uncertainty, it becomes difficult to find a touchstone for how one should feel or react. Rachelle is
that touchstone, and she became the standard by which all other nurses were measured. A peace, a genuine, unexplainable calm, would come over the room as she would enter. Rachelle was so gentile and soft-spoken with our mother, not only with medical news but with words of encouragement. 

The day after Mother's Day, our mom regained a little feeling in her left hand and was able to move her fingers into a squeeze. Rachelle asked for a "hand hug," looked our mother directly in the eyes, and said. "Wow. That was the best belated Mother's Day present ever." Having a nurse like Rachelle changes everything, really and truly. Our mother said that when you are in the hospital, "you feel very untouchable," to which Rachelle replied, "Not to me, never to me." Rachelle worked to relieve anxiety for our mother while simultaneously doing that for the three of us as well. Doctors and specialists would come in and provide us with information, and as much as you want to take in everything or ask the right questions, it is complicated in those moments. However, we knew that Rachelle would be there to guide us and ensure we understood, which is invaluable. 

When we first met Rachelle on day one in the ICU, she was wearing a Wonder Woman headband; over the days, we also noticed other Wonder Woman items. Rachelle has her own reasons for that connection, but she was our very own Wonder Woman, a real-life superhero when we needed her the most. Wonder Woman was known for being truthful, intelligent, strong, and, above all, empathic, and Rachelle is the embodiment of all those qualities. We owe her so much more than she could ever know.