Ifeoma exudes joy, connection, compassion, and empathy. She has the 11:00 pm to 7:00 am shift, when, on a good night, you'd perhaps barely remember the necessary care she provides.

However, my 85-year-old mother has been in the hospital for four nights, both before and after surgery to repair her femur. At the start of this process, my mom was afraid she would not survive the surgery (having broken her femur in another place a decade earlier), and so she was in anguish.

As a result, on our first night, before the surgery, my mom was in pain, afraid, and had a pessimistic mindset. She could not sleep, and I was trying to stay awake with her, but failing. Ifeoma entered and immediately noted my mother's mental and physical pain. Asleep, I was awakened by Ifeoma's lyrical voice and the laughter she shared with my mother. I rose and walked to the bed, where Ifeoma and my mother were talking.

It was such a beautiful, intimate, caring moment. Ifeoma made my mother feel seen, heard, and understood, something that doesn't always happen. My mom was a distinct individual to Ifeoma, not just an elderly woman with a repaired femur needing blood drawn, her pain medication, or her Purewick changed.

When Ifeoma left after her first night, she came to say goodbye to my mom and let her know that she had the next two days off, but that she'd be back to introduce the next nurse. My mom turned to me to say, "I don't want her to go. She is wonderful, isn't she?"

Because my mom's release was delayed, Ifeoma was my mom's nurse overnight. All of our care team has been excellent, but Ifeoma is the first person to ask my mom if she felt wet anywhere from the Purewick. My mom has described the sensation, at times, as though she is wearing a soggy diaper. Ifeoma anticipated this possibility, which, for my mom, is phenomenal because she is very reticent to use her call button for anything other than help getting out of bed to the bathroom.

Ifeoma is generous in sharing about herself to engage my mom in conversation, connecting on what feels like a deeper level than with other nurses. I recognize this is not necessary for strong, professional care, but my mom's mental well-being has improved because of this style of care. Ifeoma's openness allowed my mom to be fully honest about her experience without shame or fear of loss of dignity. This is no small thing. It is truly extraordinary.

After introducing our current care team, Ifeoma popped back into the room and said, "It has been a pleasure, truly, to be part of your care."

My mom replied, "I don't want to see you again here, but I do want to see you again."

"Maybe we will run into each other at Sprouts or somewhere around town. All the best to you. Stay safe and be well, both of you," Ifeoma responded.

That extra bit of warmth, compassion, connection, and understanding is perhaps as important as the high-quality medical care my mom has received. I wish my words could fully describe the difference it makes for my mom and for me. Having Ifeoma's sunshine smile and vibrant personality was a light in the darkness.