Our beloved mother arrived at Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, via ambulance after she had fallen and broken her L5 vertebrae. This break led to an almost two-week stay. During that two-week stay, the family met a myriad of healthcare workers, but there is one we will never forget.

Cynthia Burnette was one of my mother's first nurses, and upon meeting her, she immediately established a connection with her. She asked about her family and where she lived; she allowed her to brag about her family and complimented her as often as possible. The connection she developed with her deepened as the weeks went by. She was assigned to my mom's care a number of times, and each time we saw her, we felt immediate relief and appreciation. We knew my mom would be in good, caring hands.

She greeted my mom daily with care; she followed doctor and PT orders precisely; she never hesitated to take the time and care to answer her family's many questions. As she performed her vital checks and administered meds, she was careful to explain to the family members present what was being done and how it would aid Mom’s recovery. When following Doctors' orders, she ensured the family understood why those orders had been placed and how we could support them. She educated the family on how to assess Mom’s condition and instructed us on when and how to ask for additional care. When Mom suffered from pain and was agitated, Cynthia understood her discomfort and would do everything she could to provide comfort and compassion. She simply went far beyond the normal standard of care.

Cynthia was Mom's champion and advocate; she cheered her on as she completed simple but incredibly difficult tasks like walking to the bathroom. Before leaving for the day, she checked on Mom and the family; she also ensured we knew who the next caregiver would be, reassuring us that she was overseeing her care even when she was not there. On days when she was not assigned to care for Mom, she came to her room to let the family know she was on the floor and that we could count on her to help us with any problems or issues that arose. This was incredibly reassuring to the family as we knew she would oversee consistency of care.

One of our most difficult tasks was to make the decision to bring Mom home to rest in her final days. Cynthia's most selfless act was to support our family as we decided. Once we made that decision, she carefully explained to us what the next hours and days might look like. She even provided us with her cell phone number so we could reach out to her during that painful process. After mom arrived at home to be cared for by Hospice, she reached out to the family expressing her care and concern and sharing her love for mom, someone she had only met a short time ago. We knew that she had not forgotten us.