My father-in-law is a 91-year-old who has been a patient on the unit for 9 days. Like many others there, he has several ongoing issues, medicines, doctors, specialists, labs, etc. There have been days when things have changed very quickly, and times when we have started to feel confused and overwhelmed, along with the background of the emotions that come with this situation.

Christine was our nurse for several days, and she helped us in every way possible. From trying to coordinate and carefully decipher and communicate the flurry of information coming at us, to being emotionally supportive and, most importantly, compassionate to the patient. Her energy and leadership stood out the entire time. As family members, we often lose sight of how challenging it is to be a healthcare professional.

It just takes someone like Christine to remind us of the passion, ability to navigate complex emotional challenges, and empathy that many bring to their job every day, and what an exceptional human being looks like.