Recently, a patient's husband shared with Marisa his love for reading. Almost loved reading as much as he loved his wife. His wife recently had a stroke and now he was uncertain how he was going to care for his wife financially. His Kindle (electronic book) was no longer working while he was visiting with his wife here in the ICU and he was crying because now he wouldn't be able to afford a new Kindle since the devastating stroke crippled his wife. He needed to save all his money to care for his wife once she was discharged.
Marisa went home crying to her husband, who was caring for their baby and packing to move. She told him, "We have to find the Kindle that my dad gave me this past Christmas!" Her husband said it's in one of these boxes. She was determined and able to find the brand-new Kindle that was gifted to her. Marisa came to work the very next day with the new Kindle and presented it to the patient's husband. Marisa didn't tell anyone about this, she didn't ask for any donations. She just secretly found a way to gift this complete stranger with a new Kindle.
Marisa was just so saddened by this husband's experience and so she shared the whole story with the Charge Nurse and how this poor husband has to worry about his wife and how he had to sacrifice his passion for reading to be able to care for his wife. This really pulled on her heartstrings.
Marisa can be seen crying with her patients, laughing with her patients, befriending her patients and their families. She has stayed in contact with many of our patients and families out of pure sincerity and genuineness and compassion. Marisa's compassion for her patients and their families is always prevalent in all that she does. The compassion she portrays is not only for patients and families but for her team and her doctors. She recently ordered a "gluten-free" birthday cake for Dr. B and delivered it to him on her day off. For Dr. R's going away party, she showed up on her day off bearing ice cream.
Thank you, Marisa, for all that you do.