I would like to thank Aireonna, known as “Air,” for the incredible care and attentiveness she showed to my dad during a very frightening time. When we brought my dad to the ER, his symptoms seemed vague at first, he was just a little off, not quite himself. But Aireonna noticed things that others might have missed. She paid close attention to the smallest changes in his condition, listened carefully to my concerns, and trusted her instincts that something wasn’t right.

I just yelled for “Air,” and she ran in, catching my dad’s symptoms. She noticed subtle changes in his behavior and physical condition, things that might have been easy to overlook in a busy hospital environment. I watched her swiftly go back and forth through the ER trying to find the doctor, while also writing him a message to come by the room. While we waited for him to arrive, she stayed at the bedside completing what she called a stroke scale, and the doctor came in shortly after.

I was anxious, scared, and confused, but Aireonna was our family’s calm in the storm. The way she attended to my dad, while also checking in on me with the same level of concern and attentiveness, was truly impressive. I knew no matter what, my dad would be taken care of.

Because of her quick thinking and persistence, Aireonna alerted the medical team, which ultimately revealed, after many tests, that my dad had a significant brain bleed. In one of the most life-changing moments of our lives, my family and I often think about how Air made us feel. Her awareness and fast action quite literally saved his life.

I will never forget the calm and confident way she handled everything. She explained what was happening, kept my dad comfortable, and reassured me when I was scared. Aireonna’s compassion, empathy, professionalism, and dedication went far beyond our expectations. She treated my dad with the utmost care and respect, and she treated me like family, too. She even prayed with us and for us.

It is hard to put into words how grateful I am for what she did. To our family, this went beyond being just a nurse. We meant something to her, not just a number. Thanks to her attentiveness, my dad is still here today. While we are now focused on keeping him comfortable, our experience with her brings light to this difficult moment.

Aireonna truly represents what nursing is all about: skill, empathy, heart, and advocacy. We will forever be grateful. In that moment, she was quite literally our breath of fresh Air, and we will never forget her.

On behalf of our family, thank you, Air.