My fiancé and I came onto the Cardiac Stepdown wing of the hospital, scared and preparing for the worst. He had just received a diagnosis that would change the course of our lives together, and all we could do was pray, and we prayed that God would touch the minds, hearts, and hands of every person that encountered him. The very first night, Crystal Longoria took care of B. Her energy, tone, inflection, and smile brought an immediate calm to the room. I watched her throughout the night as she anticipated his every need. She was so caring, while in and out attentively checking on B and the three drips he had going. Like clockwork, before the IV could even sound an alert that the bags were empty, she was right there switching them out. Nothing happened during the night that she was not proactively on top of. There was a moment where his BP had dropped, and with cape in tow, Crystal handled it. After she had ensured that B was stable, she turned to me and asked if I was okay. No one had asked that; even I had not taken the time to think about me, but in that moment, Crystal did. The more B shared with her about his condition, the more I cried, and the more I cried, the more Crystal reminded us of the greatness of God!

Before she left the room, Crystal asked us if she could pray with us, and she did, every night that we were blessed to have her care for him. When Crystal returned from her off days, B was not her patient. Crystal would still stop in and check on us when she arrived, and she would also peep in before she left, just to remind us that she would be praying for us, and B and I knew without a doubt that she would be. Crystal is the epitome of sincerity, warmth, kindness, compassion, empathy, and graciousness. Those attributes, along with her willingness to assist, genuine concern for others, and love of God, are things that cannot be taught. They are character traits that only Nurses who are chosen for the profession possess.

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Crystal radiates positivity and warmth in everything she does, bringing light to both her patients and her team. Her constant smile and uplifting attitude are like rays of sunshine, creating a calming and joyful presence even in the most challenging situations. Crystal’s spiritual nature shines through in her care, as she truly embodies our mission of extending the Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ. Her patients feel comforted by her genuine kindness and compassion, while her coworkers admire her unwavering positivity and willingness to step in wherever she’s needed. Whether serving as a charge nurse or supporting her team, Crystal leads with grace, optimism, and a deep sense of purpose. She is a true blessing to her patients, her team, and our organization.