My dad was airlifted to UVA after having a stroke. He was admitted to the Neuro ICU, where he was for a few days, and then passed away. My mom was his elementary school sweetheart; she still has the golf ball from their first date at Tiny Town Putt-Putt in Lynchburg. They were married 50 years this past June.

Jaime took care of my mom while she was there. She made sure she had warm blankets at night, snacks, and ice water. She found a place to shower in the hospital so she could stay by my dad's side. She took time to get to know her and listened to stories of her and my dad. She even wrote the name of their wedding song on his whiteboard in his room, Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce. She would talk to my dad while she was in there, after hearing about him. She suggested playing him music, which I know he enjoyed hearing. 

She and Erin made us (his children, he had 3 girls) special trinkets with his fingerprint and heartbeat. We will have those mementos always. When you are going through something this unexpected and tragic, it makes this process as good as it could be under these circumstances. I know how hard nurses work, and she did more than just her job; she went above and beyond because I know she truly cared for my mom and our dad. She even, at times, held back emotion when communicating with us.

Thank you, Jaime, from our family in honor of my beloved father.