August 2026 Honoree
Aaron Thompson, RN
I am writing to recognize and thank Aaron, one of the ICU nurses who cared for my loved one and our family during his final days at Trinity Health Oakland. I have spent a great deal of time thinking about what I wanted to say in this letter because it is difficult to put into words the impact a person can have during one of the worst days of someone else’s life.
When our family member was dying, Aaron did far more than provide medical care. He cared for the people who loved him. He took the time to walk us through each step of the process, so we knew what to expect. He answered questions with patience and kindness. He made sure Paul was comfortable. Most importantly, he treated him as a person rather than a patient.
Aaron asked about our loved one. He asked about the things he liked, the memories our children had of him, and the life he lived outside of the hospital. Those questions may seem small, but they mattered. They reminded us that even in those final hours, he was still being seen as a father, a friend, and a person whose life had meaning.
As the former wife, I was especially touched by the way Aaron treated me. Divorce changes a relationship, but it does not erase decades of shared history, children, memories, love, or grief. Aaron seemed to understand that instinctively. He never treated me as an outsider. He treated me as someone who loved him and was losing him too.
I also appreciate the balance Aaron brought to the room. He checked on us regularly, made sure our family member was comfortable, asked whether we needed anything, and even took an interest in the game we were playing together at the bedside. At the same time, he never hovered or interrupted moments that belonged to our family. He somehow knew when to step in and when to quietly give us space.
I do not know that my children and I would have made it through the day without Aaron’s patience, compassion, and sense of humor. That may sound like an overstatement, but it is not. Aaron had an incredible ability to recognize when we needed information, when we needed reassurance, when we needed space, and even when we needed a moment to laugh.
On a day filled with grief and heartbreak, those moments mattered. They gave us the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other and to focus on being present. Aaron helped create an environment where we could spend meaningful time together as a family instead of feeling overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, or the medical process unfolding around us. That is a gift I will never forget.
Families never forget the people who help them through the loss of someone they love. Our family certainly will not. While the pain of losing our loved one remains, one of the lasting memories we carry from that day is the kindness, dignity, and compassion Aaron showed to all of us.
Please extend our heartfelt thanks to Aaron and let him know that his care made a difference. The compassion he showed our loved one and our family during those final hours will be remembered for the rest of our lives.
When our family member was dying, Aaron did far more than provide medical care. He cared for the people who loved him. He took the time to walk us through each step of the process, so we knew what to expect. He answered questions with patience and kindness. He made sure Paul was comfortable. Most importantly, he treated him as a person rather than a patient.
Aaron asked about our loved one. He asked about the things he liked, the memories our children had of him, and the life he lived outside of the hospital. Those questions may seem small, but they mattered. They reminded us that even in those final hours, he was still being seen as a father, a friend, and a person whose life had meaning.
As the former wife, I was especially touched by the way Aaron treated me. Divorce changes a relationship, but it does not erase decades of shared history, children, memories, love, or grief. Aaron seemed to understand that instinctively. He never treated me as an outsider. He treated me as someone who loved him and was losing him too.
I also appreciate the balance Aaron brought to the room. He checked on us regularly, made sure our family member was comfortable, asked whether we needed anything, and even took an interest in the game we were playing together at the bedside. At the same time, he never hovered or interrupted moments that belonged to our family. He somehow knew when to step in and when to quietly give us space.
I do not know that my children and I would have made it through the day without Aaron’s patience, compassion, and sense of humor. That may sound like an overstatement, but it is not. Aaron had an incredible ability to recognize when we needed information, when we needed reassurance, when we needed space, and even when we needed a moment to laugh.
On a day filled with grief and heartbreak, those moments mattered. They gave us the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other and to focus on being present. Aaron helped create an environment where we could spend meaningful time together as a family instead of feeling overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, or the medical process unfolding around us. That is a gift I will never forget.
Families never forget the people who help them through the loss of someone they love. Our family certainly will not. While the pain of losing our loved one remains, one of the lasting memories we carry from that day is the kindness, dignity, and compassion Aaron showed to all of us.
Please extend our heartfelt thanks to Aaron and let him know that his care made a difference. The compassion he showed our loved one and our family during those final hours will be remembered for the rest of our lives.
Thank you, Aaron, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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