My 90-year-old mother-in-law was admitted to Emory Decatur ICU and sadly passed away 5 days later. To say this event was a traumatic situation for my family would be an understatement, but I wanted to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the most amazing nurse who helped us navigate this heartbreaking time. Ferida Abdu was with us from day one. She was the day nurse for 4 days, which was truly a blessing. Her excellent care, compassion, and consistency were what kept us afloat, and we came to depend on it/her so heavily. She answered all our questions, and there were many! She was kind, patient, professional, empathetic, and always went above and beyond. She made us all feel seen and heard, and most importantly, made my mother-in-law feel safe and cared for.

The nursing profession and Emory Decatur, in particular, are fortunate to have Ferida Abdu as a member of the Emory team. We are forever grateful to her and all others who were involved in my mother-in-law's care. Ferida, in particular, made it her mission to make sure my mother-in-law was as comfortable as possible. She adjusted her IV's for better placement, shifted her as often as she wanted, talked to her, and shared stories and jokes. She made her feel loved and cared for during what turned out to be the last 4 days of her life. Ferida provided my husband, my sister-in-law, and me with support and compassion, and kept us all grounded. She truly was a lifeline, and we are all so thankful she was our ICU nurse. With heartfelt gratitude and thanks for all your care.