CJ Nicholson-Uhlis a sincere, compassionate, and caring provider. As the Director of Palliative Care, CJ helps patients deal with serious medical illnesses.

CJ first finds out what the patient wants. He holds their hand, laughs, and cries with them.

He helps them understand the journey they are on and makes the tough decisions so much easier. CJ listens and gets to know each of his patients individually. He spends whatever time is necessary with the patient and their family, having discussions on the disease process, comfort care, Hospice care, trajectory of illness, or sometimes even to be silent and be by their side as they soak in the devastating news.

One co-worker said when her mom was dealing with end of life decisions, CJ was the angel in the white coat that entered her room. He sat on her bed and talked with her in a way she could understand. He had such a special way that she was no longer afraid. His positive energy gave her peace and comfort. Even after being discharged, CJ would stop by to check in, and offered to visit her at home.

LCMC Health recognized CJ with the “Heart and Soul” award, and was celebrated with donuts, his favorite treat, and was given a yearlong supply of donuts. With that yearlong supply, he decided to give back to the community by leaving one of his $100 gift cards at a local donut shop and instructed them to use it for first responders and frontline heroes who stopped in for donuts.

- Submitted by CJ’s colleagues at West Jefferson Medical Center, Marrero, LA

A family member of a patient shared the following story. Jill Kierscht was instrumental in the care of my father when he entered the nursing home. Jill was there for our mother and our family from the first few days and every step of his care. My father was diagnosed with dementia in his late 50s. We had begun seeing signs of memory loss and behavior changes about 3-5 years prior to his official diagnosis.  When my father had a heart attack and was not safe to return home, my mother struggled with the decision to place her 63-year-old husband into a memory care unit.

Jill was instrumental in making our family feel at ease. She was a champion for non-traditional aspects of care, such as a non-traditional diet, using medications cautiously, and ordering cocktails for him to enjoy with his adult children.

Jill would take extra time to sit and chat with my mother, or any of us kids. I remember she was planning her yearly vacation on the lake and she would go above and beyond to call the nursing homes to check up on her residents prior to her vacation. She did the same for our family. She made sure our mother was aware she was going to be out of town but would call and check on our father. The same week Jill was on vacation my father passed away. Jill followed up with my mother apologizing for not being there when mom needed her the most. Jill also reached out to me, giving me hugs and apologizing for not being there that day. Jill’s heart, compassion, commitment, and expertise is what makes her an outstanding person, as well as, an outstanding provider!  When you are a patient of Jill Kierscht you are treated like royalty and you are family.

- Submitted by Jill’s colleagues at Crawford County Memorial Hospital, Denison, IA

T.J. Adkinson goes the extra mile, such as making a special trip to the store to satisfy a dying patient's craving for Root Beer when it wasn't available in the kitchen, and it was the only thing that sounded good to this patient. T.J. willingly worked additional hours, without any complaints, when his coworker faced a critical illness.

 T.J. excels as a chef, putting in considerable effort to create fresh and enticing monthly menus. His culinary creations are adored by both patients and staff, with some elderly patients even choosing to have lunch at the hospital just to enjoy the restaurant-quality food he prepares.

 T.J. is one of the friendliest and most welcoming individuals you will ever meet. He knows and acknowledges every employee by name and always asks them how their day is going, as if they were lifelong friends.

This seems small, but in the post-COVID world after months in masks and not being about to see smiles or faces, this simple thing is exceptional! It inspires others to put their heads up and acknowledge others.

T.J. is always looking for a way to bring a smile to the employees and patients of Rio Grande Hospital. He introduced "Ice Cream Thursday," a weekly event featuring a different flavor of ice cream which is free to all. This has become highly anticipated by many. In a recent survey, "Ice Cream Thursday" received praise multiple times as one of the most appreciated initiatives undertaken by RGH this year.

T.J. often arrives at work early to prepare breakfast for meetings he isn't required to attend. This can include baking fresh croissants for all participants, ensuring they have a delicious start to their day.

T.J. candidly helps generate ideas on how to better serve our less heard members of the community. Several new community outreach projects have been generated with his help including work on a school-based health clinic and a wellness initiative designed to encourage preventive care.

- Submitted by Andres Torres & Heidi Helgeson at Rio Grande Hospital, Del Norte, CO

As a physical therapist, Molly Redden loves people and helping them meet their goals. She builds trust and relationships with her patients, students, and colleagues. Patients will contact her with concerns, successes, and their achievements long after discharge.

This year she and another colleague created and implemented a summer camp for students with mild to moderate impairments called PALS (Pushing All LimitS). This camp allows students to participate in activities at their level which during school would have to be adapted for them to keep up with their peers. The progress these students have made with improving their skills and strength to do physical activities has been amazing. The students are happy to be at camp, parents are excited to see the improvements and staff have found joy in watching camp sessions. She is a willing and enthusiastic mentor to students, a great clinical instructor and charismatic classroom teacher.

As a colleague, Molly is the one who often initiates ideas for gifts for weddings, babies, etc. She remembers special occasions like milestone work anniversaries and birthdays and will give a little gift or party.

 The time Molly invests in building relationships among patients, students and coworkers allows her to lead by her actions. She is the first one with a smile and her positivity can be felt throughout the room.

Molly goes above and beyond frequently by adjusting her schedule to treat patients before or after regular work hours, having treats ready for pediatric patients to help them get through difficult sessions, and assisting patients/families in finding needed equipment.

Molly has brought food to the nursing department on Thanksgiving to let them know she appreciated what they do, volunteered to be a guide runner for a visually impaired cross-country runner so they could participate in the sport, and purchased a pair of shoes for a patient who was not able to afford them. Molly's commitment to the medical center and her community shine in her volunteer work. Molly is a youth volleyball and basketball coach, athletic booster, and past board member of the WCS Athletic Boosters, Foundation and Shedevils Dance Team. She is always actively working on tasks/projects to make them successful and is an excellent ambassador for PMC.

- Submitted by Andrea Blecke at Providence Medical Center, Wayne, NE

When the Community Education Committee sent out a general request for donations of homemade teddy bears for our pediatric ED and FMC patients, Nancy Wilbern, a dietary worker, took it upon herself to make the bears. By the time she finished, she had created 31 bears. She drove 30+ miles in one direction to purchase fabric that was extra soft for the kids to hug (with her own money). She was concerned about the safety of the children, so she did some research and learned how to make the bears child-safe by sewing the eyes and nose instead of using buttons. These bears will be given to kids and babies who are not feeling good or newborns at their very first appointment.

 Nancy is a true example of a caring, thoughtful individual who gives of herself to others.

Nancy dedicated a significant amount of her personal time outside of work, and the associated financial costs, to craft these teddy bears. Her willingness to invest both time and money into her workplace, without any hesitation, exemplifies her commitment and generosity.

Whenever you encounter Nancy in the dietary department, she always has a smile on her face and greets everyone by their first name. Her positive demeanor contributes to enhancing the overall ambiance within the hospital's halls.

- Submitted by Casey McDonnough & Gloria Przygoda at Pinckneyville Community Hospital, Pinckneyville, IL

Patrick England routinely goes above and beyond what most providers would do to assist a patient.

He cares about his patients and is invested in their health outcomes.

I have witnessed Patrick call a patient at night and on weekends to make sure they have received the medication that he prescribed, to answer a question, or just to reassure them that he is only a call away. Patrick has also hand-delivered a prescription to a patient that lacked transportation to pick it up themselves.

Given the excellent care Patrick provides to his patients, it's no surprise that some of them travel long distances to see him. These patients have expressed that the drive is well worth it, as there are few providers who exhibit such a high level of concern for their patients, let alone inspire this level of loyalty. Despite passing by numerous primary care providers, these patients choose to come to Kinder, Louisiana, because of Patrick's exceptional care and genuine concern for their well-being, making it a clear and easy choice.

- Submitted by Kellye Foster at Allen Parish Community Healthcare, Kinder, LA

In 1986, nurse Sandra Clarke faced a heart-wrenching moment when she couldn't stay with a patient who requested her presence, and returned to find the patient had passed away alone. Driven by compassion, in 2001, she initiated the "No One Dies Alone" program, enlisting volunteers to sit with terminally ill patients lacking companionship. What began as a local effort has now evolved into a global movement.

No One Dies Alone serves as a volunteer program that ensures the comforting company of a dedicated volunteer for patients in their final moments. Supported by the nursing staff, these companions play a crucial role in offering patients the profound gift of a dignified death.

The No One Dies Alone manual, a resource guiding compassionate volunteers, has been distributed to over 400 hospitals, hospices, and AIDS care facilities worldwide. Remarkably, this all-volunteer initiative operates without significant funding, relying only on a modest grant to cover manual printing costs.

The individuals who step up to volunteer for No One Dies Alone represent a diverse and captivating mix. From hospital staff including carpenters, administrative heads, maintenance workers, nurses, secretaries, to kitchen workers, a broad spectrum of individuals has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful cause.

You can learn more about the program by visiting https://how-we-die.org

- Submitted by Lynn Sullivan 

Amanda Rothenberger's dedication to our most critically ill patients is frequently praised, both by her colleagues who value working alongside her and by those who receive her care. The following patient stories offer a glimpse of the profound compassion Amanda has for her patients and our community.

I was taken to the ER when I was confused and unable to choose the correct words when I was speaking. Amanda was my ER nurse and had a lot of trouble getting me to cooperate and let them monitor my BP and O2. I was completely disoriented and unable to follow direction compliantly, but she persisted and never lost patience or spoke sharply to me. She was soothing and kind to me and my cousin for hours until I was admitted to the ICU. Every bit of nursing care I had needed, she provided. I am amazed that she was so kind and patient with me!

My 9-year-old daughter required an emergency room visit due to severe stomach pain, and our nurse was Amanda. Amanda's immediate and reassuring approach not only put my mind at ease but also comforted my daughter. When it came time for my daughter to get blood taken, she was quite apprehensive. Amanda talked with her patiently and calmly, doing everything to try and comfort her. Suddenly Amanda asked if it'd make my daughter feel better if she showed her that it wasn’t scary to get blood drawn. She proceeded to remove her own jacket, sit on the bed, and allowed the technician to draw her blood. Throughout the process, Amanda never left my daughter's side, holding her hand and engaging her in conversation about her favorite cartoon. Her exceptional care didn't end there; Amanda even gifted my daughter a small stuffed cow when it was all said and done.

Amanda shows the true definition of a compassionate heart and our community is better because of nurses like her.

- Submitted by Amanda’s colleagues at Good Samaritan, Vincennes, IN