I have been caring for my husband here in Greeley after he had his appendix removed. I was at my husband's bedside all day yesterday. After a long day, I stayed in the hospitality house on the NCMC campus. My foot was very sore.

Before heading to visit my husband, I decided to stop at the Emergency Room to have my foot checked out. Eileen Mayer was my nurse, and what a gift she has been. She was my first contact after getting to my room. She could tell I had a lot of things going on with my husband and living 100 miles away. She allowed me to cry.

During my time in the ER, she has always followed behind the doctors and others to check on me. She made contact with my husband's nurse so I could check on his status. She stressed the importance of my own health while knowing I had lots of other things on my mind.

Eileen has been so kind, gentle, caring, and compassionate with this exhausted, broken soul. She helped keep me together and helped me deal with being admitted and planning for surgery of my own. As I prepare to leave the ER, I am saddened to leave Nurse Eileen.

She connected with me on an emotional level that has been stretched to the limit and kept me safe, calm, and supported during this extreme trial my life has put me through. I am more than grateful for Eileen today. Our paths were meant to cross because I would have never made it without her.

I want to add to my first nomination by saying what a beautiful surprise it was to have Eileen stop by my hospital room this morning before I head off to surgery. She was here for a class and chose to take some of her valuable time off and personal time to stop by to share her smile and a couple of hugs.

There aren't many super-duper humans in this world like Eileen. I am so happy to have Eileen on my side and on my care team!