On a Friday in July, I received a frantic call from my sister stating my nephew was being taken to the hospital because he was having a heart attack. Although I knew he was being well taken care of because my coworkers deliver exceptional care to any patient who comes to our unit, it was still a frightening and stressful time, as it was now my family. 

The entire team provided my nephew with excellent care and kept us well-informed. They were instrumental in saving his life. They allowed God to use them that night as His tools, and because of their efforts, my nephew is doing well after receiving 3 stents. The team in CCU also provided exceptional care to my nephew. Deborah, however, went above and beyond in caring for my sister (my nephew’s mother) and her friend. The two of them spent the night in the waiting area. Deborah ensured that their needs were met. She made them as comfortable as she possibly could while they waited through the night. 

Around 5 am, my sister said she had just closed her eyes when she smelled coffee, which she had been wanting. My sister opened her eyes to see Deborah trying to be quiet and not disturb them. She left both of them a fresh cup of coffee. Deborah did not just meet their needs that night, but the next night as well. She treated my family like they were her family. Deborah met our needs, relieved our stress, listened to our concerns, and answered our questions. She gave us one of the most valuable assets a person has, and that is her time. Deborah willingly and effortlessly delivered exceptional care to us. She never made us feel like she was too busy to talk or sit a minute to listen. She treated us like we were her only concern or her only thing to do. She gave us individualized care while the nurses in CCU cared for my nephew. 

Deborah has a heart for patients, their families, and nursing. She is a caretaker. She defined nursing during our stay. Deborah is an asset to nursing and this organization.