Nurse Isabelle Hoernke is exactly the kind of nurse my father needed during his first few days in the hospital. My father was admitted due to complications from stage 4 squamous cell cancer and severe malnutrition, driven by his overwhelming anxiety about his diagnosis. Throughout his life, he has battled mental health challenges, and this devastating diagnosis had sent him into a downward spiral. The night he was transferred from Eastpark to the downtown UW hospital, he was consumed with worry, struggling to calm himself and comprehend what lay ahead.

When I arrived at his room after driving over from Eastpark, I was greeted by Nurse Izzy, who was diligently getting him settled in. As she continued her work, she repeatedly reassured him that everything would be okay. At one point, he broke down in tears, overcome with fear. Without hesitation, Nurse Izzy stopped everything she was doing, knelt beside his bed, took his hands in hers, and softly consoled him. She reassured him, comforted him, and simply was there with him. In that moment, she gave my father something he hadn't felt in weeks-peace. Her kindness and presence put him at ease in a way that no one else had been able to. It was then that I knew, after spending nearly 30 straight hours at his bedside, that I could finally go home and rest, because Nurse Izzy understood him, truly saw him, and cared for him in a way that went beyond medical treatment.

It's easy to become jaded or emotionally exhausted in a profession dedicated to serving others. But Nurse Izzy's compassion, her ability to be there for my father in his most vulnerable moments, is a testament to the impact one person can have. For those two days, she was his person, and for that, I am forever grateful. Nurse Izzy, you are an amazing person. Keep being you. From the bottom of my heart-thank you.