How does one whittle down 39 years' worth of countless stories of boundless compassion, vast knowledge and wisdom, and leadership that has mentored hundreds of new nurses to be confident, critical-thinking, seasoned nurses? Here is my try ... One story is of a patient who came to us intubated, sedated, and very critically ill. His brother and his family came every day to sit at his bedside from morning until night. We got to know the patient through their inclusion of us while they told old family stories. Kelly spent so much time at their bedside listening, laughing, and making sure that they were comfortable and well taken care of. When the patient passed several weeks later, Kelly held them, cried with them, and mourned as though she had lost a family member too. She treats patients, family, and friends like they are part of OUR family.

Another story is of a 50-ish patient who came in after having a brainstem CVA. He was on a ventilator, unable to move, communicate, or even breathe on his own. He was acutely aware of his prognosis. His wife knew he would not survive off the ventilator, and she made the most heart-wrenching decision to compassionately extubate him. Kelly made arrangements for his wife to lie next to him in bed and hold her husband one last time as we removed his life support. Tears trickled down the patient's eyes as he, his wife, and Kelly cried for the loss of his life. COVID brought so much loss. Not having family to be with the patients in their last days was heartbreaking for everyone.

One story is of a husband and wife of over 60 years. The wife was on a ventilator, and the husband was being brought in from a different unit to be placed on a ventilator. We knew if they came in and were being intubated, their chances of survival were nearly impossible. Kelly had us rearrange their beds and rooms so that this husband and wife could see each other through our one lone window separating beds. Kelly was able to give them one last gift of being able to see each other in their last moments of life. In the last 39 years, she has always made the culture in the unit to be like a family. The stories of such are countless.

I have had the good fortune to start my career 27 years ago by growing, learning, and observing what a truly great leader Kelly is. She was the best mentor I could have ever asked for. She makes us all rise to be better nurses, colleagues, and leaders. She sets the benchmark. Every day I strive to be better because of her. As she starts her new career path into retirement, I will always strive to be better and "keep my side of the street clean." "A truly great nurse is hard to find, difficult to part with, and impossible to forget." By anonymous.

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It’s hard to identify one act or situation to personify the compassion Kelly Furness embodies. Kelly touches so many patients and staff as a unit leader. Her compassion is like a ripple effect. In the setting of caring for a patient who had a complication and an unexpected life-changing event, Kelly provided the family with guidance and solace to ease their burden. By sitting with family and enveloping them into our ICU family, they felt heard, loved, and supported. Kelly has an innate ability to identify the needs of patients, family, and peers to ensure the experience for all is healing and welcoming. Kelly took the time to be present and emotionally available to hold their hand, give a hug, and care for them not as a patient but as family