Mary Andreu, who floated to 6A on a Monday in October of 2025. Toward the end of her shift, Mary was assigned a patient who had arrived from a nursing home facility, accompanied by his wife, who was in her nineties and had ridden along in the ambulance. Mary quickly recognized that the patient’s wife appeared intermittently confused and realized she would not be able to stay in the hospital overnight. Understanding the complexity of the situation, Mary immediately began problem-solving to ensure the wife’s safety and well-being.

Despite her best efforts, she and the couple were unable to arrange transportation back to the facility. Deeply concerned, Mary took it upon herself to arrange—and personally pay for—a Lyft to return her wife safely to the facility. But Mary’s compassion did not end there. Upon learning that the facility was located near her own home, she coordinated the timing so that she would arrive around the same time as the Lyft to ensure the patient’s wife made it back safely.

When my staff shared what Mary had done, I was truly moved. Stories like this exemplify what makes Denver Health such a special place to work. Mary’s compassion, initiative, and commitment to caring for not only our patients but also their families reflect the very best of nursing. Thank you, Mary, for going above and beyond in such a selfless and heartfelt way.