As an RN nurse educator, I also have sincere gratitude and could not have asked for a better nurse to care for my father. In January, my father was very ill with COVID-19, he was seeing his PCP multiple days per week for a couple of weeks when we noted his symptoms were worsening. My father is a very prideful, independent, hardworking man who never misses work and mostly works 7 days per week for an automotive company. After coaxing him to come to the hospital, the only way he would come is if I were here. When he arrived he had to be placed in the critical care area of the EC, after stabilizing he would end up being admitted. Since January 2024, my father had to come to the EC and be admitted to the hospital a total of four times. The two RNs that stood out were Evan and L. Each of them cares for him on different visits.

On his fourth visit, he was so sick I was unsure if he was going to get better and make it out of the hospital. He was placed in a trauma room where Evan was his RN. My son and I met my sister, mother, and father at the front door. He had been lethargic, confused, hypoxic, tachycardic, and had lost more weight. My family and I were scared. As a long-term EC Trauma RN and educator, there is not much that truly scares me. Of course, the priority of Evan was to care for my father, and as a very competent and wonderful RN, he did so well. Where he made a difference was with me, his educator, and co-worker. I stood outside of the trauma bay pacing and crying but trying to remain strong in front of my fellow peers, but truly did not think my father was going to get better after months of fighting this illness.

After he completed all of his tasks on my father, and he had a moment, he came out of the trauma room telling me as I cried that they were going to stabilize him and get him through this. He wasn't going to allow him to go anywhere, and they were going to fix him. As I cried, I told him I was not so sure, in which he hugged me and allowed me to cry in his arms. He told me we were a team, a family, and we were going get through this, and if I needed anything, he was here. I can never thank him enough. Because although I was still skeptical, he made me feel slightly better, entrusting my father's life in his hands, and truly comforted me.

My father is only 59, and I thought I was going to lose him, but because of the incredible care he received and all of the prayers/thoughts and compassion from RNs and staff like Evan, my father is here today! I am incredibly proud to be part of this team and work with Evan and L, and I could never thank them enough. They truly left their mark not only on me and my father but also on my family.