I would like to nominate the entire staff of the ICU team for the exceptional care and compassion they extended to my wife, C, and myself during her devastating illness and final days of life. We entered the hospital via the ER, never expecting that only one of us would be walking out. While the care we received in the ER as well as the regular Unit when C was admitted ...there is nothing that could have prepared us for the ICU. The sheer level of attention to her medical needs, as well as the absolute professionalism and skill level displayed by all of the staff, overwhelmed us in such an amazing way.

Wrapped in this cocoon of care, we had hopes that things would progress much differently than they did for C medically. I took up residence in room X, and, I think, became known as "the wife in room X" throughout my 12-day 24/7 stay in that room with C. I feel as though I was their patient sometimes as well, especially because of the amazing way they took care of me in addition to C. I know that I can be a little extra in medical situations and am involved in all the decisions that need to be made in the absence of her ability to do so. The staff in the ICU Is the most respectful, professional, and responsive group of nurses and healthcare professionals I could have asked for to care for C. They were creative in their approaches to managing her complicated condition. They viewed our large extended family as positive energy and not a burden to be managed. They welcomed our humor and joyful approach to life with open arms and sought to learn more about C as a way in which to add to her care and make her feel personally cared for. They built relationships with me that bolstered me when I had rough moments in the course of her illness and multiple surgical procedures, and most importantly, they shared of themselves and truly cared for us with compassion and a love for doing their jobs and caring for our family in its greatest time of need.

Once a 4th surgery became recommended and C decided to make her wishes for DNR/DNI known, the level of compassion coming from these nurses and Doctors raised to a level that will bring me to tears forever. We worked as a team to make decisions that made C's last days as comfortable as possible while still recognizing that some family members were having a very difficult time with what was happening. We came up with a plan that respected all the things we needed to do for C while also keeping her family as protected as possible from the ending none of us wanted to experience so that they would land as softly as possible on the other side of that moment. I cannot thank them enough, and I have been wracking my brain and trying to think of some way that would be meaningful enough.

We sent fresh cookies, I have cards for all of them with a special rubber duck, I have words but yet never enough words to truly thank them for the time they gave and for letting me send C off the way she chose and on her own terms. As far as I am concerned, they truly are angels who walk among us. There are a few who spent multiple days with us in a row that I could name out; however, it truly was the entire unit that made our stay there as special as it was. I know that may sound like a strange way to say it, especially in light of the outcome; however, looking back, I realize it truly was special because of the way in which they treated us. I don't know exactly the criteria that are used to decide who gets this award, but I will never meet another group of nurses and Doctors that work so seamlessly together and will have made such a positive impact on our lives.

The one-to-one care that each one of these nurses provided to us in twelve-hour increments, day after day, with the most respect and compassion, from providing medication to bathing, from every single label on her twelve IV monitors, the level of care that every single nurse provided cannot be singled out into one human nurse body. This is why I feel the need to nominate the entire ICU team of nurses. I am sure I could talk for hours on how wonderful all of these amazing humans are.