Brynn Dahlby
January 2026
Brynn
Dahlby
,
RN
ICU
Aurora BayCare Medical Center
Green Bay
,
WI
United States
I spent nearly 40 minutes on the phone with her and my uncle, sharing laughs and hearing his final goodbye, which still echoes in my mind.
It has taken me quite some time to find the strength to write this, and even now, these words only scratch the surface of the impact Brynn made on my uncle and our family. My family met Brynn on one of the hardest days, the day we placed my uncle in hospice and prepared for his passing. What we did not know was how soon that would happen.
Throughout the day, family and friends came and went from the ICU, and Brynn was a warm ray of light. She bonded with my uncle immediately, heckling him back just as he needed, answering every question, and feeling like part of the family from the start, which says a lot because the entire care team was exceptional. Mid-evening, we said goodbye for the night, fully intending to return in the morning. Little did we know that would not happen.
My uncle had no children and was more like a dad than an uncle to me, and I was his primary contact. Around 9:30 p.m., I spoke with another nurse who mentioned he would be moved to the fourth floor, something already discussed earlier, so I thought nothing of it. After her shift ended, Brynn felt called to go see him because she had not been able to say goodnight or goodbye.
Just after 11:00 pm, she called me to say he was fading quickly and that if anyone wanted to come, now was the time. We live 45 minutes away, and I knew I could not be there without begging him to stay, which I felt would make his passing harder. Brynn told me she would stay with him as long as she could and that she was praying and singing with him. She knew our faith through conversations, pastor visits, and communion, making this deeply personal and exactly what he would have wanted.
I spent nearly 40 minutes on the phone with her and my uncle, sharing laughs and hearing his final goodbye, which still echoes in my mind. Brynn ensured he was comfortable mentally, physically, and spiritually. She was truly an angel that night, ensuring he did not pass alone. She even placed warm, water-filled gloves in his hands before leaving so he could feel peace and comfort. I received the call at 2:30 am that he had passed. Later, Brynn shared that he passed just 45 minutes after she left and was completely comfortable and at peace. She also helped ease my guilt for not coming, reminding me that many people wait for loved ones to leave before passing.
Throughout the day, family and friends came and went from the ICU, and Brynn was a warm ray of light. She bonded with my uncle immediately, heckling him back just as he needed, answering every question, and feeling like part of the family from the start, which says a lot because the entire care team was exceptional. Mid-evening, we said goodbye for the night, fully intending to return in the morning. Little did we know that would not happen.
My uncle had no children and was more like a dad than an uncle to me, and I was his primary contact. Around 9:30 p.m., I spoke with another nurse who mentioned he would be moved to the fourth floor, something already discussed earlier, so I thought nothing of it. After her shift ended, Brynn felt called to go see him because she had not been able to say goodnight or goodbye.
Just after 11:00 pm, she called me to say he was fading quickly and that if anyone wanted to come, now was the time. We live 45 minutes away, and I knew I could not be there without begging him to stay, which I felt would make his passing harder. Brynn told me she would stay with him as long as she could and that she was praying and singing with him. She knew our faith through conversations, pastor visits, and communion, making this deeply personal and exactly what he would have wanted.
I spent nearly 40 minutes on the phone with her and my uncle, sharing laughs and hearing his final goodbye, which still echoes in my mind. Brynn ensured he was comfortable mentally, physically, and spiritually. She was truly an angel that night, ensuring he did not pass alone. She even placed warm, water-filled gloves in his hands before leaving so he could feel peace and comfort. I received the call at 2:30 am that he had passed. Later, Brynn shared that he passed just 45 minutes after she left and was completely comfortable and at peace. She also helped ease my guilt for not coming, reminding me that many people wait for loved ones to leave before passing.