The pain of losing my sister suddenly is sorrow I continue to experience. It was several people who cared for my sister in my stead as she was taking her last breath.
My sister, D, arrived via ambulance. She just started her first round of chemo but found herself in great abdominal pain. D was sent to the ICU but in a short amount of time was placed in Critical Care.

I received a call regarding my sister's deteriorating condition; D was suffering from sepsis. Dr. Sheikh kept calm as she explained what my sister had and how it occurs in the abdominal region with cancer patients. Dealing with sorrow and trying to take it in, her patience had allowed me to comprehend what was happening. Dr. Sheikh informed me in the most gracious manner my sister may not make it before I could be by her side. Unfortunately, she was right. It was during this brief timeframe I experienced tangible and unconditional love, compassion, and honesty not only for me but for my beloved sister.

As I was driving home, I received another call from Dr. Sheikh. My sister was gone. I was weeping uncontrollably, denying what she was telling me, trying to find a place to pull over. I was in deep distress. Sarah Johnson, Sara Frey, Liza Herring... all of them were on the phone with me as I'm driving home. This illustrated how they cared for D as their own sister. Holding her, caressing her, loving her! These women were crying with me, listening to all I had to say, covering me with their love eight hours away! As I continued my drive home these Nurses wouldn't leave me, hearing my groans of sorrow pulsating through the phone.

To ease my pain, they told me how they wheeled my sister's bed to show her the sunset stating, "D, look! A beautiful sunset, and on your birthday! How special are you!".
Because of these Nurses, my sister did not die alone. She had Dr. Sheikh, Sarah Johnson, Sara Frey, Amna Sheikh, Zach Dudek and Liza Herring nurturing her. They experienced her laugh, D thanking them for their kindness, for their care. The Nurses said, "Your sister must have been a spitfire. I wish I got to know her better." But time wouldn't allow it.

If one Nurse was not there, my sister would not have received that Nurse holding her; if the other Nurse was not there how would her bed be moved to see the sunset; if the one Nurse was not there, who would soothe her, whisper soft words as she was fading away.

My husband and I arrived Thursday afternoon. During our drive, I spoke to Zach Dudek. I told him about D. He knew her and as much, wouldn't leave me either. Zach said he would be at CCU1 waiting for me and, as promised, he was. As I entered the unspoken doors he knew right away who I was. He escorted me, my husband, and my sister-in-law, into a private room. He found Dr. Sheikh, the Sara's, and Liza. All of them gave me and my family as much of their time as we needed, once again, to process all that has happened.

Zach advised me it probably wouldn't be a good idea to see my sister in the morgue. He gently explained his reasoning, to which I agreed. He gathered my sister’s belongings and handed them over to me. Dr. Sheikh, again, graciously spoke of D's passing and how tranquil it was for my beloved sister. The Sara's and Liza, once again, re-illustrated how they loved on her and wouldn't leave her alone. I even got to see my sister's CCU1 room to picture where she was from the window and how close her room was to the Sara's, Liza, and Zach.
This CCU1 team deserves recognition because of their explanatory, individual care over my sister as she was taking her last breath. Each individual went above and beyond care, leadership, time, and tears for me and mine.
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Team Members honored with this DAISY TEAM award:
Sara Frey, RN
Zach Dudek , RN, BSN
Liza Herring, RN, BSN
Amna Sheikh, MD
Sarah Johnson, APRN