*A Story of Strength and Recovery* I remember a patient our team took care of for quite some time on the complex medicine unit. He was a young man, in his early twenties, and he was in a bad way. He was weak. He was tired. In many ways he felt defeated. He was too sick for the surgeons to safely perform the life-saving surgery he needed, much less ready for any kind of discharge plan. Linda came into his life and began to work her magic. Many nurses on the team were overwhelmed by the patient’s complexity of care. But not Linda. He had drains and tubes seemingly everywhere, and the uncertainty of his plan did not make his situation easier. She took the patient in as if he were her own son and started first with his psyche. Linda sat with the patient and his family, who had all but moved into the tiny hospital room. She explained that the only way out would be through.

In order to get surgery, the patient needed to complete his antibiotics and get stronger. Medicines were the easy part, she explained. Getting stronger required agility and a belief in self and in God. The patient came around. He took his first steps out of bed in several weeks with Linda. They were not the most graceful but Linda celebrated them anyway. The love she showed the patient and his family week after week could be felt by all. I recall one day, she made an overhead page, inviting nursing staff from across the unit to join together in the patient’s room. He was getting out of bed for his daily workout to the song of Linda’s choosing, Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.”

Linda inspires not only the patients under her care, but also the team members who she brings in to bear witness to her nursing excellence. Under Linda’s watchful eye, the patient grew in strength and in confidence. He was ready for surgery and recovery. Ultimately, the patient had a remarkable turnaround and recovered on another unit in the hospital. Linda visited each week, celebrating with the patient every milestone in his journey. And the patient now? He is back at work, he fell in love, and he is now married. The patient writes, “Thank you, Mrs. Brown. Like an angel, you appeared in my life and helped me along my journey. Words cannot express how thankful I am that you were there for me when I needed comfort, kindness, and understanding. You opened your heart and lightened my load. For all you do, I am beyond blessed.”

The story is extraordinary by any measure. But for Linda, this is just another day of her ministry.

Note: This is Linda's 2nd DAISY Award!