I first met Ms. Zotte on when my father, who was 93 years old at the time, was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit under Ms. Zotte's care. My father's health had taken a dramatic turn for the worse that morning and was brought to the Intensive Care Unit. His decline was rapid and quite shocking, despite his advanced age. My father was in complete distress when I first saw him in the ICU, which was clearly very upsetting to me and my mother, who is 90 years old and in very frail health. Since my father's organs were failing, his body seemed to be seizing and while seemingly conscience, it was impossible to understand what he was telling us behind his oxygen mask.
Ms. Zotte was truly an angel. She was a constant presence, either in the room with us or was nearby and always ready to explain what was occurring and to make sure that my father was treated with dignity, respect, and limited suffering. She was amazing to observe and her calm demeanor never deviated. Not only was she wonderful with my father, but she was equally caring for my mother, myself and those few others who came to be with my father during his last moments of life.
My father passed away the next day, which was a blessing since he did not suffer for long. We made the decision on that day to not invoke any extraordinary means to prolong his life. We only wanted to see him comfortable and pass quietly into death. Ms. Zotte was nearby the entire time providing both comfort and solace to my father and my family.
Reading this letter, one might conclude that Ms. Zotte was only performing her job responsibilities. As an ICU nurse, she is tasked with providing support to those in very compromised and serious medical conditions. However, having witnessed her for those two days while my father was in the ICU and having been present for other family members and friends who have been in the ICU, some at Overlook and some other hospitals, she rises far above the rest. She has both incredible clinical skill and compassion. To merely dismiss her contribution as performing her job responsibilities is a disservice to Ms. Zotte and others like her who truly love their jobs and who are wonderful at what they do.
As an employment attorney, I am very cognizant of how people perform their job responsibilities, with the skills of the actual task, but also the emotional satisfaction they bring to the job. Ms. Zotte is very special for these and other reasons and so deserving of the recognition that I felt compelled to write this letter to lavish her with praise.