I would never in a million years think my grandfather would choke on a piece of steak and end up in the ICU. From someone who works in the medical field, I didn’t think I’d ever be on the other side of things. Praying and wishing the lord could take him on a different day. Closing my eyes to open them again, only to grasp the fact that this nightmare was reality. Amongst the restless and devastating days, a stranger, a woman I’ve never met, somehow became the only light during the darkest of days. Bringing calmness and laughter, smiles with sad tears, and resilience to our worries. Janett always welcomed herself in with a bright, dazzling presence. She always knew what needed to be done. Assured us constantly. Answered all our questions thoroughly and addressed concerns with tenderness and honesty. She took the time to listen to our stories about our grandfather to understand the man she was caring for, and she embraced that responsibility with the utmost seriousness and compassion. I never felt for a second we had any reason to worry who we were leaving to watch our grandpa, because the woman we were leaving him with was the most incredible nurse Ive ever met.

Every day, maybe even 3 times a day, my grandfather would shave. We grandkids noticed he needed a good clean up and offered to bring in his razor, only to find out Janett had shaved him and made him look presentable. He would never come out of his room until he was showered and dressed with his shirt tucked in. The little things go along way when you’re grieving. Janett was thorough in her care and explained to us without judging our questions. She gave my grandfather extraordinary care that made our family feel comfortable to grieve without any hesitations about his care because we knew we were in good hands. Janett is everything I hope to be when I become a nurse. She was respectful and approachable, bringing laughter to a scene full of tears. She made our family feel calm as we entered a place of anxiety and uncertainty. She was personal and treated our grandfather like her own grandfather. She brought peace to my Mom's biggest heartbreak imaginable. She took the time to see all the pictures my mom had shown throughout his 88 years of life, making this transition manageable for our family. Knowing that we were going to see our grandfather in his final days, Janet brought her huge heart and open arms of love. She was kind, sweet, and calm, and she went far above and beyond what a nurse would do. I wish Janett had been our nurse for our grandfather throughout his entire stay and as he transitioned into the heavens. Anyone would be so lucky, loved, and blessed to have Janett care for their loved ones. I cannot thank her enough.