When my father had a hemorrhagic stroke and subsequent intracranial bleeding, my mom and I relied heavily on the ICU medical team to understand his illness, prognosis, and next steps. It was the first experience either of us had to deal with an acute and grave medical condition. Everyone who served him was an absolute gift. They helped us to cope with the situation and provided enormous guidance and comfort during a difficult time.

I am especially grateful for the actions of one special nurse, Caitlin. Despite some initial hope that my dad could recover, we observed a decline in his lung function and responsiveness after a few days in the hospital. Fortunately, Caitlin was there with her quiet strength and gentle comfort. She went out of her way to spend extra time in his room to support us and answer our questions. Never once did she act hurried or too busy. She went above and beyond her duties to sit with us and have a real conversation, communicating her genuine concern for us and our emotional well-being.

That night, I left the hospital, touched that she cared so much for her patient and their family that she would give us such precious moments, even as her long shift was ending. Our interaction with her instilled peace within my mom and me, which carried us through the difficult decisions ahead. A few days later, we decided to transition to compassionate care. On Dad's final day in the hospital, we met with the hospice nurse and planned for his discharge and transport to Lightways. It was a blur, and we hardly noticed what was going on around us. That evening, Caitlin stopped by Dad's room to express her heartfelt sympathy before she left for the day. She was not assigned near his room that day; in fact, she stopped by several times, waiting to provide words of comfort and to check on him, quietly returning to check if we were available.

While I cannot remember her exact words, I am tearing up as I write this because she didn't just deliver care for my dad, but she opened her heart to him and my family, allowing all of us to matter to her. I am not sure I can express how meaningful her actions were. She made sure he was not simply a case, and that has made all the difference as we move forward in our grieving process. My dad died peacefully the next morning at Lightways, and I know his life was enhanced by having Caitlin as a nurse. Someone like her has such immense worth outside of her clinical skills. The type of compassion she is willing to demonstrate is rare and special. I hope Caitlin is recognized for opening her heart so fully to her patients and their families.