During rounding, I was talking with a mother whose son had endured an 18-hour surgery the day prior. I asked her how her care had been, and she began to tell me about an OR nurse who made a difference during one of the hardest times of her life. Prior to surgery, this mom had to say goodbye to her son in case he didn't survive the operation, as this was a possibility due to the complexity and risk of the surgery. As you can imagine, this mom was very sad and distraught. She said that after crying for the first 2 hours, Kelly came out to update her and offered a ray of light that changed her crying to a smile and hope. She said Kelly would call her or come out and talk with her every 2 hours to give her an update on her son's operation. This mom talked about how Kelly was able to connect with her and made her feel as though she had a friend and support person right there through it all with her. This truly did make a difference, and the mom said she was put to ease with Kelly there with her. She knew her son was getting the best care he could be getting. Her son did make it through the surgery, and Kelly even went up the next day to check on the mom and let her know she was thinking/praying for them. This act exhibits both "Compassion and Excellence" that Kelly has. Thank you, Kelly, for making a mother’s darkest time a little brighter. You supported her and gave her hope, and this is exactly what she needed at that moment to get through an incredibly long day. You touched a mother’s heart that day and made a difference. Please don't forget the power of a smile, a kind word, and taking the time to connect with someone. It may be the very thing someone needs to get them through the day.