When my dad was in Comfort Care at Bakersfield Heart Hospital, our nurse, Brooke Brown, showed my family an immense amount of compassion. Losing a parent at 22 years old is one of the hardest and heaviest things I have gone through. But Brooke was there to lighten the load. My dad had a hard life, but the end of it was peaceful and comfortable because of Brooke. She catered to me and my mother, brought us food and drinks, gave us hugs, and made us laugh. The trajectory of our lives changed the day my dad died, but Brooke was a beacon to us then. She was gentle, yet direct. Straightforward, yet compassionate. I had no idea how much you could bond with someone in a 12-hour shift before I met Brooke. Having her there was like having another sister; she shared our laughs, our cries, our pain, and our relief that he wasn't suffering when it was all over. I had never been as close to death as I was that day, both physically and emotionally. Brooke helped me carry the weight. I will never forget the feeling of watching my dad die right in front of me, but I will also never forget the comfort that I felt having such an amazing nurse go through it WITH us. My family will never forget what Brooke has done for us. I will always remember her as the light on the darkest day.

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