April 2024
Anthony W
Abdallah
,
RN
CICU
Maine Medical Center
Portland
,
ME
United States
We were overcome with emotions as a family and in shock, but Anthony was right by our side for two nights during his shifts.
Where to start? In my mother's greatest hours of need while in CICU, we had the great luck to be paired with Anthony. My mother's condition was dire, and she was moved to comfort measures. We were overcome with emotions as a family and in shock, but Anthony was right by our side for two nights during his shifts. He was extraordinary: professional, knowledgeable, and wise but also deeply compassionate and concerned about all the stages of what she and we were going through. He prepared us for all that would come next but brought extraordinary warmth and thoughtfulness. He was patient and attentive and made us feel that whatever we needed was doable and done with great care. I honestly don't know how we would have made it through the experience of our beloved mom's passing without Anthony's care. His thoughtfulness and guidance helped us be there, stay present, and be attuned to what my mom needed. He was so gentle with her and respected her humanity, even when she couldn't respond. He treated her not like a patient but like family. I can't thank Anthony enough for his kindness, but maybe this nomination for the DAISY Award can. You are very lucky to have such a talented, skillful, and wonderful RN on your team. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to celebrate him.