My 22-year-old son was struck by a subway train in New York and rushed to the emergency department at NYP Weill Cornell, fighting for his life. His left arm was amputated, and he suffered multiple facial and skull fractures, broken ribs and teeth, and three mini-strokes that affected mobility on the right side of his body.

During our second week in the Trauma ICU, Phurbu Dolma touched my son's life and ours in a way I will never forget. Her strength of character, kindness, gentleness, compassion, and clinical expertise made an extraordinary difference in his recovery and in our ability to endure the unimaginable. My son was on a complex regimen of fourteen medications, from Oxycodone and Lovenox to Depacon. Dolma administered every dose with the precision of a Swiss clock. She explained each medication with patience and clarity, reassuring us at every step. She kept him clean and comfortable, performed ultrasounds, placed catheters, and somehow still found the energy and heart to speak to him softly, as though she were tending to someone she deeply cared about rather than simply doing a job. And then something remarkable happened. My son, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury and couldn't form a sentence, began to speak a few words with a tracheotomy still in place, to Dolma as she gently coaxed them out of him. He felt safe enough to silently cry with me in her presence. We would wipe his tears together. Dolma became part of our small circle, the people who hold him close. She asked who he was, listened to his music, and treated him with kindness that made him feel seen, protected, and human. Dolma is petite, yet with a bit of help, she lifts my nearly six-foot-tall son and remains on her feet for hours without complaint. Her medical skill is unquestionable, and her compassion, empathy, and steadfast presence made me feel my son was truly safe in her care.

After three weeks in the Trauma ICU, he was transferred to the Surgical Care Unit (14 North), where Nurse Jamie Liang took over his care. Her impact on his recovery and on our ability to endure the unimaginable was extraordinary. Jamie’s kindness, gentleness, cheerful disposition, compassion, and clinical expertise made a profound difference every single day. When my son developed pneumonia, spiked high fevers, and continued to struggle with limited mobility, he required constant vigilance. Jamie was there without fail: helping him fight his fever, administering antibiotics around the clock through an IV, feeding him through a PEG tube, and making sure he remained well hydrated. She kept him clean, fresh, and comfortable, attending to him with a level of care that was both technically excellent and deeply humane. She explained every medication with patience and clarity, always reassuring my son. She spoke to him warmly and respectfully, and she was the first person to wish him a happy birthday. In countless ways, she treated him with a kindness that made him feel seen, protected, and above all, normal. She helped normalize his situation, encouraged him to talk, and created an atmosphere where healing felt possible. Jamie’s medical skills are unquestionable. But what set her apart was the steadiness of her empathy, the consistency of her compassion, and her unwavering presence. She made me feel that my son was safe in her care, and during the most terrifying period of our lives, that sense of safety was a priceless gift. We are profoundly grateful for Nurse Jamie Liang. She is exceptional in every way.