Diane R.

Nominated by Jean Z.

It's incredibly difficult to condense Diane's wonderful, compassionate, professional capabilities and personal endearing qualities into 300 words, but I will try. In addition to being my fabulous husband's main infusion nurse for the last 2 years of his life at the Dana Farber, Diane became a dear friend. Her dedication was unparalleled and her loving spirit was genuine and sincere. She was willing to educate me on everything I needed to know in order for me to take care of my husband while we were at home - and gave me the confidence and support to do so. On the evening of June 10, when it finally became abundantly apparent that the love of my life was quietly and courageously slipping away (at home, with only me present), I called Diane to simply ask for some advice on what meds I could give him to make him comfortable. She immediately said she was 'on her way'. Not only did she arrive within 35 minutes (on a SATURDAY night, after having worked all day) against my protest (although I was privately so relieved for her presence), she insisted on sitting with me for the entire evening, as there was little more we could do medically. In the morning, she helped me sponge bath him. We lovingly made him as fresh and comfortable as possible, although by this time he had slipped into a deep coma, and she left by 8:30 a.m. only because she needed to. My husband, who was the world to me - and Diane's patient and friend - passed away several hours later, but I know that he knew on some level that she was there helping me through that night and that it gave him a huge measure of comfort in his final hours, knowing she was there. Diane is an angel - as are many nurses, but she was our 'special' angel. And I will be forever grateful to her - and more comfortable knowing that she (and people like her) are in the medical profession - as we are ALL infinitely better.