My father, R.L. was admitted to the 8th floor, Clarkson Tower - the Adult ICU on June 22nd after having a stroke. His condition wasn't favorable due to a hemorrhage in his brain. After a few short days your staff informed my mother that his long term prognosis wouldn't be without hurdles (feeding tube, trach, paralysis on the left side of his body.) As a family we made the decision to keep him comfortable going forward.

On June 25th another patient needed his room on the 8th floor, so we were moved to the 6th floor in Clarkson Tower. All of your staff made the next four days as comfortable as possible for us all. However, on June 28th one of your nurses, Rachel & the tech assigned to her that day, Bruno, went out of their way to keep us informed & provided us with complete trust that our father was in wonderful hands. My dad started to decline that morning. After our hour drive from my parents home we spent seven hours with dad. He seemed to be improving or at least holding steady as he had the entire week. Rachel assured us that he would not be alone if he was to pass, after we informed her that we would be traveling home for the night. Rachel also gave us the advice to say goodbye and that it was okay to go, tell him we forgive him/ask for his forgiveness, say that we were sorry/know that he was sorry too and to tell him that we loved him/know that he loved us.

Each night that week my mom & I told him we loved him & that it was okay to go, but we had not said sorry or asked for forgiveness. After doing so Friday it seemed as if dad sighed - like he was ready to go. Before leaving we noticed that my dad's ID bracelet said, "R.O. L." which we told the staff on Thursday was incorrect. His middle initial was G. Rachel promptly told her supervisor & showed my dad's drivers license with the correct name. Just before 4pm Rachel's supervisor put the new/correct bracelet on my father - R.G. L. (Rachel came in within minutes with a new bracelet too - wanting to have the correct name.)

Mom & I said all our goodbyes, love you, forgive you, I'm sorry & left. Within 30 minutes of leaving my dad started to decline. Rachel kept my mother informed. However by the time we were able to get back my father had passed. Rachel waited around at the end of her shift to give my mother a hug. My dad had died at 6:50 pm Friday, June 28th-- we arrived at Clarkson at 7:22. Rachel spoke kindly of my dad & how she sat with him, then had Bruno sit while she ran & did her rounds, and then came back to sit again finishing her charting. She was so kind & truly touched my heart.

It's now two and a half weeks later & I still think of the great impact Rachel had on my dad, mom & me with tears in my eyes. I wanted you & Rachel to know how wonderful it is to have such compassion & warmth present when all seems so lost & cold. I know my father is in a better place & Rachel (& Bruno) made his journey there a little sweeter.

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Rachel was our first "repeat" winner, having first won the DAISY Award in September 2010! Way to go, Rachel!!!