February 2025
Carolina
Diaz Soriano
,
RN
2nd Bright Leaf
UNC Health Johnston
Smithfield
,
NC
United States
She took care of him like he was her own dad and she constantly served as a rock for all of us, giving us hope, encouragement, and advice on navigating this journey we’re on.
My dad suffered serious complications from Parkinson’s. EMS took him to a nearby ER, and then he was transported to UNC Smithfield. My mom and I were terrified, and Dad was nervous because he had never been admitted to the hospital. Carolina was his nurse, and she welcomed us at 2am with the nicest and most reassuring care we could have ever imagined. She explained everything in detail and listened to my dad, Mom, and me. She knew he was hungry and she set out to get him a sandwich, snack, and drink in the middle of the night. She talked to him and for the first time that day, we all had a sense of calm that it would be ok. We stayed with Dad that night, and Carolina made sure we were all comfortable. She checked on Dad multiple times and really worked to get to know him. She was his nurse 7pm-7am that week, and by the end of the week, she truly felt like family. Dad never wanted for anything.
As he got better, Carolina was his biggest cheerleader. She always checked in and wanted to know anything he needed or wanted the doctor to know. Mom and I had lots of questions, too, and Carolina was so patient to answer every single one. We never worried about Dad when he was under her care. She took care of him like he was her own dad and she constantly served as a rock for all of us, giving us hope, encouragement, and advice on navigating this journey we’re on.
I’m not going to lie, when Dad was discharged, we all cried with Carolina. Happy and grateful tears! She was a true angel during the worst week of our lives. I have never known anyone who could make a patient feel so cared for and loved in just one week. I credit Dad’s recovery to the whole team at UNC-Smithfield, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Carolina.
She made him feel hopeful. He got nervous at night and had trouble sleeping. She calmed him down and helped him get a prescription to help him sleep. That simple act helped him heal because he was able to rest. She made us all laugh when we didn’t think we could. She talked to him and told him stories that made him forget his struggles and just be in the moment. And she helped us understand the medication and recovery process easily.
As he got better, Carolina was his biggest cheerleader. She always checked in and wanted to know anything he needed or wanted the doctor to know. Mom and I had lots of questions, too, and Carolina was so patient to answer every single one. We never worried about Dad when he was under her care. She took care of him like he was her own dad and she constantly served as a rock for all of us, giving us hope, encouragement, and advice on navigating this journey we’re on.
I’m not going to lie, when Dad was discharged, we all cried with Carolina. Happy and grateful tears! She was a true angel during the worst week of our lives. I have never known anyone who could make a patient feel so cared for and loved in just one week. I credit Dad’s recovery to the whole team at UNC-Smithfield, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Carolina.
She made him feel hopeful. He got nervous at night and had trouble sleeping. She calmed him down and helped him get a prescription to help him sleep. That simple act helped him heal because he was able to rest. She made us all laugh when we didn’t think we could. She talked to him and told him stories that made him forget his struggles and just be in the moment. And she helped us understand the medication and recovery process easily.