My 49-year-old brother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Three months later, he was admitted to Hillcrest for what would be his final hospital stay. He passed a week after being admitted. For most of the days during his stay, his nurse was Allison, and she was a true gift to my brother and to our family. It wasn't just the bright light that followed her into his room when she entered with a perky "how's my guy?" greeting. Allison went above and beyond, advocating for him when he was in pain, when the wait times for things not in her control got long, and when communication with the dining service got hard. She brought him pizza when he said it was the only thing he wanted, even though we all knew he couldn't eat it. She ensured he had a supply of cereal when it was the only thing he could eat. She talked to him about his music and his job as a chef, always being an ear and allowing him to take her on a walk down his memory lane.

And when we had to make the hardest of all decisions, she was a quiet presence who witnessed our pain without judgment and continued to provide strength to us. She joined in our prayers and said the words for us when the words wouldn't come. Allison was a part of that weeklong journey that I will never forget, and I will always be grateful to her.