Recently, we admitted a 17-year-old patient to our hospital under the care of Dr. Maurice Collada following a devastating brain injury. This young man was struck by a vehicle traveling at highway speed while he was changing a tire on the roadside.

He arrived with catastrophic brain trauma and may have suffered a cardiorespiratory event at the time of impact. Despite his youth, his neurologic condition was dire. I proceeded with a large craniectomy in hopes of helping him, but tragically, he was found to have malignant intracranial hypertension—a non-survivable injury.

While the patient mercifully had no awareness of his condition, his family—especially his parents—were shattered. Their grief was palpable, and it deeply affected the dedicated nurses who cared for him in his final hours.

These nurses came to work prepared to heal. In this case, their clinical skills could do little for the patient, but their humanity was everything. They supported the family with grace and compassion, managing their own emotions while offering strength to others.

I want to recognize David Zubrinich, Malachi Teague, Kristin Brownlee, Katie Larson, and Taryn Goff for their extraordinary presence and care. Their role in helping the family navigate the unimaginable loss of a child was profound and deeply meaningful.

In healthcare, we often learn to suppress the emotional toll of such experiences. But they change us. They drain us. And when we give so much of ourselves, we deserve acknowledgment—not just for our clinical work, but for the compassion we extend in moments of heartbreak.

Thank you for helping me honor these nurses and the vital, human work they do.