My wife has been a patient on Kahn 5 for the past 17 days after being diagnosed with Wernicke Encephalopathy. During one of the most frightening and uncertain times of our lives, we were cared for by many wonderful people, but one nurse stood out above the rest. That nurse is Claire Grabinski.

From the first moment Claire walked into the room, she treated my wife with empathy, dignity, and compassion. She was unable to walk, stand, or care for herself. She was confused, disoriented, and scared. Claire did not just care for her medically. She cared for her emotionally as if she were a member of her own family.

I work in the healthcare field, so I know what good care looks like. What Claire provided went far beyond that. Claire took time to listen whenever we had questions or concerns. She never rushed us and always made sure we understood what was happening. If she did not have an answer, she contacted the doctors herself to get the information we needed and made sure we always felt supported.

There were also days when Claire was working on the same floor, but was not assigned to my wife. Even on those days, she still stopped by to check on her and make sure she was doing okay. That level of dedication is rare and very meaningful.

Claire took time to learn about who she is as a person, not just as a patient. She spoke to her with patience and kindness during moments when she was frightened. She also supported me with understanding and encouragement when I felt helpless.

Claire went above and beyond in every possible way. She brought comfort during uncertainty. She helped restore confidence when it was shaken. She played an important role in my wife’s care, progress, and rehabilitation simply by showing up each day with a genuine heart.

I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. Claire touched our lives in a way we will never forget. I hope she reads this and knows how much she helped both my wife and me. Her compassion and professionalism represent the very best in nursing.