Sydney O Hladilek
December 2025
Sydney O
Hladilek
,
RN
Emergency Department
Cone Health Annie Penn Hospital
Reidsville
,
NC
United States
What truly sets Sydney apart is the love she brings into her work.
I am honored to recognize Sydney for her exceptional compassion, professionalism, and unwavering humanity during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life. We met in an emergency room, a place filled with urgency, fear, and uncertainty. I was overwhelmed, physically hurting, and emotionally raw. Amid the chaos, Sydney became a calm and steady presence. She didn't just treat me as a patient; she saw me as a person in need of comfort, connection, and care. From the very first moment, she brought light into a dark space, and I will never forget the peace she gave me.
Sydney's abilities as a caregiver extend well beyond clinical skills. She is intuitive, attentive, and deeply empathetic. She knew when to speak and when to simply be present. Her touch was gentle, her words sincere, and her actions filled with purpose. She moved through the ER with grace and focus, balancing the demands of a high-pressure environment with a rare kind of emotional intelligence. She anticipated needs before I could voice them and responded with calmness that made me feel safe. In a place where time is short and emotions run high, Sydney made me feel like I mattered. Unlike others who may sit back or wait for a call, Sydney is always in motion, checking on patients, adjusting blankets, offering water, listening, and making sure no one feels forgotten.
She doesn't just do her job; she lives it with purpose. You can see it in the way she walks with intention, in the way she smiles with sincerity, and in the way she glows with the joy and pride of doing what she loves. Her energy fills the room, and her presence lifts the spirits of everyone around her. Sydney’s dedication is not just admirable, it's inspiring. What truly sets Sydney apart is the love she brings into her work. She didn't just care for me, she cared about me. She sat with me when I was scared, held my hand when I felt alone, and offered friendship when I needed it most.
Her sincerity was unmistakable. She laughed with me when I needed joy, and her laughter, warm and unforced, lifted the weight of fear from my chest. That laughter reminded me I was still human, still capable of feeling light even during pain. Sydney’s presence was healing in every sense of the word. Her compassion extended beyond me to my family. My daughter and my two grandbabies were anxious and afraid. They didn't know what to expect, and they were worried about their grandmother. Sydney welcomed them with open arms, speaking to them with kindness and patience. She answered their questions, reassured them, and made them feel at ease.
She gave them the gift of peace, knowing that I was in the hands of someone who truly cared. That comfort meant everything to them, and to me. Sydney’s impact cannot be measured in charts or checklists. It lives in the quiet moments—the way she made me feel seen, the way she made my family feel safe, the way she turned fear into trust. She is the kind of caregiver who changes lives not just through medicine, but through presence. Her heart is her greatest tool, and she uses it with extraordinary skill. In a world that often rushes past pain, Sydney stops; she listens. She loves. And that love is unforgettable. To honor her spirit, I offer this poem as a reflection of the light she brings into every room.
The Light in the Room
In the rush of beeping monitors and hurried steps, where fear hung heavy and silence wept, she entered not with noise, but grace— A calm, a warmth, a shining face.
Her hands did more than heal the pain; they held the heart, they broke the chain of loneliness that gripped so tightly. She turned the dark into gentle light.
She didn't sit, she didn't wait, she moved with purpose, love innate. Each blanket tucked, each word she spoke, was kindness wrapped in every stroke.
She saw the soul behind the chart and gave her care with all her heart. To me, a stranger, she became a friend, A bond that time could never end.
My daughter watched, my grandbabies too, and felt the peace that only angels do. For in her glow, they saw the truth— That love still lives in quiet proof.
So, here's to Sydney, fierce and kind, A healer of both flesh and mind. Her joy, her pride, her steady flame— She is the light, and love, and name.
Sydney's abilities as a caregiver extend well beyond clinical skills. She is intuitive, attentive, and deeply empathetic. She knew when to speak and when to simply be present. Her touch was gentle, her words sincere, and her actions filled with purpose. She moved through the ER with grace and focus, balancing the demands of a high-pressure environment with a rare kind of emotional intelligence. She anticipated needs before I could voice them and responded with calmness that made me feel safe. In a place where time is short and emotions run high, Sydney made me feel like I mattered. Unlike others who may sit back or wait for a call, Sydney is always in motion, checking on patients, adjusting blankets, offering water, listening, and making sure no one feels forgotten.
She doesn't just do her job; she lives it with purpose. You can see it in the way she walks with intention, in the way she smiles with sincerity, and in the way she glows with the joy and pride of doing what she loves. Her energy fills the room, and her presence lifts the spirits of everyone around her. Sydney’s dedication is not just admirable, it's inspiring. What truly sets Sydney apart is the love she brings into her work. She didn't just care for me, she cared about me. She sat with me when I was scared, held my hand when I felt alone, and offered friendship when I needed it most.
Her sincerity was unmistakable. She laughed with me when I needed joy, and her laughter, warm and unforced, lifted the weight of fear from my chest. That laughter reminded me I was still human, still capable of feeling light even during pain. Sydney’s presence was healing in every sense of the word. Her compassion extended beyond me to my family. My daughter and my two grandbabies were anxious and afraid. They didn't know what to expect, and they were worried about their grandmother. Sydney welcomed them with open arms, speaking to them with kindness and patience. She answered their questions, reassured them, and made them feel at ease.
She gave them the gift of peace, knowing that I was in the hands of someone who truly cared. That comfort meant everything to them, and to me. Sydney’s impact cannot be measured in charts or checklists. It lives in the quiet moments—the way she made me feel seen, the way she made my family feel safe, the way she turned fear into trust. She is the kind of caregiver who changes lives not just through medicine, but through presence. Her heart is her greatest tool, and she uses it with extraordinary skill. In a world that often rushes past pain, Sydney stops; she listens. She loves. And that love is unforgettable. To honor her spirit, I offer this poem as a reflection of the light she brings into every room.
The Light in the Room
In the rush of beeping monitors and hurried steps, where fear hung heavy and silence wept, she entered not with noise, but grace— A calm, a warmth, a shining face.
Her hands did more than heal the pain; they held the heart, they broke the chain of loneliness that gripped so tightly. She turned the dark into gentle light.
She didn't sit, she didn't wait, she moved with purpose, love innate. Each blanket tucked, each word she spoke, was kindness wrapped in every stroke.
She saw the soul behind the chart and gave her care with all her heart. To me, a stranger, she became a friend, A bond that time could never end.
My daughter watched, my grandbabies too, and felt the peace that only angels do. For in her glow, they saw the truth— That love still lives in quiet proof.
So, here's to Sydney, fierce and kind, A healer of both flesh and mind. Her joy, her pride, her steady flame— She is the light, and love, and name.