Nurturing Angels on Earth: A Tribute to Nurses

(Dedicated To Christy, the medical teams of Veterans Affairs, Marin County Health, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, San Jose, Washington DC, Reno, Davis, Essen-Werden, Duesseldorf Hospitals, and all our CGS nurses)
I am writing this to honor our dear friend Christy’s memory who passed away in October. She was only 49. A large portion of Christy's career was spent as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Stanford Children's. If you asked her kids what their mom did, they said, "She saves babies." She was one of the most selfless, compassionate, and tireless people I know. May God guide me and let the right words flow from my heart to my pen, to pay tribute to her life of service and countless contributions.
She fought her cancer with so much courage, this was during COVID and her relentless determination brought her home to her daughter Aubrey and her son Cole. Aubrey and Andre met at Carden in pre-K and have been besties since. I remember them laughing, singing, dancing, and playing in our very CGS backyard. We were so thankful to the Lord and hoped after many brutal chemotherapies that she would be cancer-free. In August a tumor was found in her brain. Again, she fought like a lion and went through surgery with one single thought in mind. Make it to celebrate her 50th birthday with her loved ones. She passed away a few weeks before and is now smiling at all of us from above and continuing her work as the true nurturing angel that she was, is, and always will be. I admire her capacity to live in the present moment and to be the best mother she could be, despite some days under the harsh reality that she could not save all those in her care. Because she always led with her heart, she was able to make such a profound impact. Her impact lives through the lives she touched, the many lives she saved, and the many nurses she mentored. 
Amazing ICU nurses saved Remy’s life after his multiple-trauma motorcycle accident, then Ansgar's after his, and gave it all to the 10 friends and family that passed away last year many young and from terminal cancer.
To all the nurses who cared for our loved ones: We see you; we need you; we feel you. Most of all we love you, to be interpreted in angel speak “We see God in you”. 
God is Light. God is Love. Love is God. Love is Service. 
Through your dedication and compassion, you are both Love and Light to every soul under your care. Thank you for being the special You that you are. Thank you for letting that little light of yours shine and melt our hearts. Thank you for the warm welcome and the many words of solace that made such a difference to brighten our days and overcome some of our grief.
We are forever grateful for your loving kindness and critical care. “Essential worker” is not doing justice to the selfless giving and caring nurses do day in and day out in the front line. Their skills truly matter to save lives and when it’s not possible they provide the comfort, solace, and human dignity needed to overcome the fear of the last hour and to appease the grief of those left behind.
This write-up is to inspire, fill their cups, and remind them of their "Why" in terms they don't always hear. To help them feel great about what they do and touch all their hearts. Nursing’s most extraordinary gift to humanity—they give, give, and give, —yet they never ask for anything in return. 
In a world that often values recognition and fame, nurses stand as shining examples of humility and service. They are the compassionate souls who tirelessly give of themselves each day without expecting or anticipating anything in return. Their quiet dedication speaks volumes, inspiring us all to strive for more humility and meaning in our lives.  We should acknowledge all nurses do that affirm our value, relevance, and importance, not just as patients, but as human beings. Nurses are the beacon of hope, the reminder that no random act of kindness goes unnoticed and that genuine care matters. They are the motivation boost to help us not only recover but also to be the best we can be to reflect God’s Grace more perfectly. 
Educated by the Salesian sisters, St Francis of Assisi is one of my role models, and the excerpt below from one of his famous prayers is a good summary of what nurses do.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
where there is injury, pardon,
where there is doubt, faith,
where there is despair, hope,
where there is darkness, light,
and where there is sadness, joy.” 

• St Francis of Assisi

To all the past, present, and future nurses. Your contributions do not go unnoticed. You provide comfort, care, and healing to those in need. Your compassion knows no bounds, and your commitment to your patients and colleagues alike is genuinely remarkable. Thank you for your dedication, and your unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Thank you for showing us what it means to live a life of service and for inspiring us to do the same in our lives. Thank you for being the compassionate, giving, and selfless individual you are. You are appreciated, valued, and loved. As patients, as primary caregivers of loved ones, we move on, we move forward, but we never forget you, you are never left behind, especially in our time of prayer. 
I am deeply humbled by the miracles you perform every day. By the not-so-little light that keeps shining from your soul. You touched our hearts but mostly the souls of our loved ones who went on to meet the Great Light. You brightened their last days and made the last hours more bearable. You told them there was no shame in being afraid and in asking for help to better manage their pain. You were the nurturing angels down below connected in your heart and soul to the ones from above.
God gives grace to the humble and those who pour their heart and soul into giving. We are so blessed to have all of you gifted nurses in our midst.
With deepest gratitude,
Isabelle Coste-Fürst
CGS Council Member & Deacon
To honor Christy's long career as a nurse and her love of children, we have chosen to support St. Jude's. through this special fund. Everything they do is centered around finding cures and saving children. They do so much to support families when a cure is not possible. Should you prefer donating to CGS, feel free to do so. Our family has found in this amazing community the support to recharge our dead batteries, overcome the overwhelming grief wave, keep the Light shining in our souls on the dimmest and darkest days, and most of all to help us realize that grief, is Love enduring and that Universal Love is ubiquitous, even in the most painful of circumstances.
- Isabelle Coste