My mother was admitted to your ICU. She was very critical, with a grave prognosis. Marylon involved our family in the care she provided for my mother by informing us about the care plan and any changes. She was so kind and reassuring. When my mother's status changed for the worse, she was her nurse again. She kept us updated at the bedside, explaining what the various changes meant, and included us in conversations with the doctors so we could make the best decisions for my mother's care. We ultimately decided to change our care plan to comfort measures. She went out of her way to ensure we were well informed about what to expect for end-of-life care. After my mother passed, she was very gentle and patient with our family during our grief. I wanted to see my mother's face one more time without all the tubes, and she made that happen. She cleaned her up, removed all the machines from the room, and let us spend as much time with her as we desired. I know that some of these things may not seem extraordinary to you, but I have had two horrible experiences with the death of family members. I'm sure she would say she was "doing her job," but I can say that "doing her job" was more than I had experienced at other times. She has restored my faith in the care that is provided. Above and beyond all things, she treated my family and me with the same dignity and respect as my mother, which says more than you can imagine. I hope she knows how much she is appreciated and what a tremendous asset she is to your unit.