I was on call and I received a call from an RN who requested my presence in ICU. She also asked if I would stop by CCU as an RN said she planned to call me for another family but had not yet. She did not recall the name of the RN nor the name or room number of the patient. After I completed with the original family, I walked to CCU and when this nurse saw me walk through the double doors, their arms were outstretched wide with the most beautiful smile on their face saying to a gentleman standing next to them (which happened to be the father of the patient), “Here she is - my favorite chaplain! I love them all, but this one…  I was going to call you” and grabbed me and hugged me. What a wonderful welcome! This was a huge family of approximately 25 to 30 people, and friends present in the waiting room and patient’s room. This nurse shared the history/ back story of the patient and basically that the family needed spiritual support, guidance, prayer, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on as they made the decision to discontinue life support and eventually grief support, especially the patient’s wife of three years and three months (who has no biological family), patients 2 sets of parents (both parents remarried), maternal grandmother, and siblings. This nurse introduced me to the family with whom I was with for the next several hours. This nurse exemplified every one of our IU Health Values and more! 

Purpose: they did well for every patient and person present  

Excellence: they did their best at all times, keeping the family updated with their personality, smile, and tonality  

Compassion: they treated everyone with respect, empath,y and kindness; they went beyond the Call of Duty  

Team: they worked very closely as a team  

This nurse shared with me something they wanted to do for the family. They shared that they had been a cardiac nurse for over 15 years and loves working with cardiac patients.  This nurse planned to print the patient's heartbeat “electrocardiogram,” cut small pieces, place one in a vial, and give it to each person present. This nurse did just that! This was HUGE because the patient was an organ donor but was not able to donate his organs. This way every person has a part of him that they can keep forever. It was the sweetest, most authentic gesture of loving kindness I have ever witnessed. Every person hugged this nurse and thanked them for the thoughtful gesture. There was not a dry eye in the place.  Thank you, Kara, for the love and support you give to your patients, family, and staff, in carrying out IU Health Values. I am so blessed and honored to know you and work with you. I look forward to working with you again and again, anytime. God bless you all, God bless you for ALL you do. You ROCK!

Note: This is Kara's 2nd DAISY Award!