My husband and I came to know and appreciate Annie as she provided nursing care for our friend while he was a patient at Boone. Our friend, a 93-year-old patient, was experiencing extreme back pain as well as other significant health issues. From our first encounter and during each encounter that followed, we found Annie to consistently be all you could hope for in a nurse. She was professional and skilled.

At the same time, she was kind, compassionate, respectful, and cognizant of B's unique needs associated with his level of pain and age. For instance, she made efforts to be certain that our friend heard and understood what she said to him and that he was positioned in the bed to be as comfortable as possible. Annie has wonderful interpersonal skills. She took time to engage with us, the visitors, and asked on a few different occasions if there was anything we needed. She made time to respond to phone calls from our friend's daughter, who lives out of state. Those updates were greatly appreciated by all his family.

Annie took personal responsibility to see that even mundane tasks were performed to keep our friend feeling as well as possible. She was the first one to attend to his overall hygiene, seeing that he received a sponge bath. It was an act that demonstrated that she understood that good healthcare is not only medical intervention, but it includes valuing a person's dignity and helping a patient feel as good as possible about themselves. There are many other ways we could praise Annie, but we will close with a word of sincere thanks to her for treating our friend so kindly and respectfully and bringing smiles to his face in a very difficult circumstance. And thanks for extending compassionate care to his family and us as well. We are all grateful to you, Annie.