On behalf of our family, I would like to honor three caregivers who attended to my father during his recent hospital stay. The skillful and compassionate care they provided should be noticed and praised as they supported not only my father but our whole family as well. They truly define the role of professionals and the passion for their work was evident in everything they did - every day. These professionals to be honored are Margaret Nolan, Mariana Vergara, and Jordan Silberhorn. 

Margaret (Maggie) Nolan was the first nurse in charge of my father's care after his spinal surgery. He was placed in a room after he developed serious complications from his surgery. My father was suffering from pneumonia, and a collapsed lung. He was placed on a ventilator and his outlook was not favorable. We were blessed to be placed in Maggie's care. She tended to my father and addressed every need with professionalism and grace. Not only did she meet the critical needs of my father, but the support she provided to my family cannot go unnoticed. She explained things in a manner that we could understand. All of our questions were answered thoroughly, and her emotional support was the key to our perseverance. Seeing our father in a state of sedation and on a ventilator was an emotional overload. Maggie assured us every day that tomorrow he would be better and stronger. When my father was removed from the ventilator, Maggie addressed his every need with immediate attention. She brought questions to the doctors and facilitated the implementation of all their directives with great skill. She soon learned what a great "negotiator" my father was and held him to the directives issued by the physicians - not an easy task. She used her warm compassion and sense of humor to encourage him through the rough days and celebrated the gains he made with enthusiasm and strength. The care Maggie provided was essential in my father's recovery, and we are extremely grateful to her and will never forget the love she shared "just doing her job", as she would say.

Mariana Vergara took over for Maggie during my father’s stay. At first, we were fearful due to Maggie’s absence and were not certain about the quality of care he would receive moving forward. We had come to trust Maggie and valued the care she provided. Mariana stepped in and what a relief. She continued the excellent care standards that we had grown accustomed to and eased the anxieties my dad had regarding his health and the recovery process. She spent hours addressing his needs and did so with compassion and patience. She orchestrated his care with many healthcare professionals and support staff. When my father became discouraged and would get “stuck in his head” from fear and uncertainty of his prognosis, she would talk him through it in a way that provided him with the hope he needed to push forward. She, too, became aware of his skills in “negotiation” and provided firm and consistent support to follow the directives issued by the medical staff. One of the greatest assets of Mariana’s care was her ability to keep my father thinking positively – he was going to make it home at some point. Mariana communicated with my family every morning regarding my father’s evening and the goals for the new day. She also filled us in on any changes to his medical care that had been made during the evening hours after we left to go home. Knowing she was there allowed us peace of mind to comfortably go home and rest. That is one of the greatest gifts to give a family during a health crisis. 

Jordan was our guardian angel. My father was placed in her care after he returned to the hospital after being discharged. She was given the task of providing care to a typically strong man, who had given up and was confident he would never go home. Along with my father, she received his family, who were fearful and extremely frustrated. On the first day in her care, things took a turn for the better. Jordan had the personality and skills necessary to deal with the whole family, which is an enormous task. Her calming demeanor and sense of humor were just what we needed. She assured us that my dad was in good hands and that she would see to every aspect of my father’s care. I would often hear her tell my father, “You let me worry about that. Your job is to get better. Don’t be doing my job.” She also took care of my father’s basic needs: Showering, shampoo caps, and providing food alternatives that he could finally eat. She worked very closely with Dr. Jacob and Dr. Bukhari implementing the care that they requested to pull my father out of the dangerous situation he was in. She shared what the doctors had said and explained it in a manner that we could understand, and helped us navigate through the setbacks that we had faced regarding his care. Sometimes a warm smile and a touch of grace are all someone needs to see the hope in tomorrow, and Jordan provided us with that. We will forever be grateful. 

As you can see, these three women excelled in the care they were assigned to provide my father during a serious and scary health crisis. Their love, compassion, and professionalism will never be forgotten and have become a source of inspiration as we move forward on our new path of caring for a remarkable man. The countless hours of conversations and the heap of questions asked and answered were the medication needed and became our strength.  Please acknowledge these amazing people with the same love and compassion that they shared with us.  I cannot think of a group of professionals who deserve it more.