My grandmother is one of the most important people in my life. Every photo shoot, magazine cover or award I have earned over the course of my career can be tied directly back to her. Making sure she would get the care she needed was important to me.

Dondi was not just a care provider but very much a partner in the care of my grandmother. She kept me informed and explained things in an easy to understand manner. She was kind and looked for opportunities to provide assistance. It was so nice to periodically see her smiling face, asking if there was anything she could help with or anything we needed.

The way she provided care for my grandmother made it clear that she saw more than a patient, she saw a person. She came in at the start of her shift to say hello and would let us know when her shift was ending. She would stop by and say my shift is ending soon and we talked about any notes that needed to be left for the next nurse and anything that needed follow up.

Not only did she care for my grandmother but she cared for my family. I stayed all day and all night every day. Dondi was kind enough to offer me blankets and pajama pants to try to make my stay as comfortable as possible. It has been a blessing to have her as my grandmother's nurse.