When we walked into the cardiac ICU in the morning, we were still in shock from our Dad’s heart attack the night before and very uncertain and scared for what lay ahead. The first person we met in Dad’s room was Nurse Yasmina. She was intently monitoring the many different IV drips and inputting notes into the computer, but still managed to make us feel as comfortable and welcomed as possible. We knew the situation was very critical and were desperate for any information at all. Nurse Yasmina explained what she could and assured us that Dad was in very good care.

Over the course of the following days and weeks, this incredibly exceptional level of care by her and the entire staff of Hackensack Medical Center was very evident. While she was so warm and friendly to both Dad and us, it was clear that Yasmina’s primary responsibility was, of course, Dad. And she worked tirelessly at this. Dad was medically sedated on a ventilator and in very critical condition for the first couple of days. Yasmina was in constant motion the whole time. Whether it was adjusting/administering medication, checking numbers, communicating with doctors, attending to and monitoring Dad’s physical condition, she did everything in such a professional and confident manner. It really was very impressive to see. Just knowing that she was there with Dad gave us feelings of hope and reassurance.

On top of the technical care, it was so comforting to see the compassion Yasmina showed to Dad. She spoke to him so kindly while he was medically sedated. She was there for him medically but also emotionally when his ventilator was removed. She gave Dad a heart pillow to hold to help give comfort for his coughing. He still keeps it on his couch at home, and it is a reminder of the many moments of compassion he received at Hackensack Hospital. The care Yasmina showed us was also amazing. She patiently and empathetically explained what was going on in a genuine way that we could understand. Especially in those first critical days when everything was so uncertain, we relied on her medical skills and reassurances to keep us going.

Dad’s recovery was an emotional roller coaster. A few times, we were told some very scary news, or Dad would experience a setback. Yasmina always kept our spirits up, even at our low points. This was so important and helped us, as we wanted to be positive emotionally for Dad. We can’t emphasize enough how much we appreciate and how grateful we are for what Yasmina and the entire staff of Hackensack Medical Center did for Dad and for us. We recently celebrated Dad’s 75th birthday, and we are so thankful to have him with us. It’s remarkable to think how far he has come. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for that.