A few weeks after my daughter Rachel passed, I found a note in my Facebook messages.

“I was one of the nurses that took care of Rachel when she was in the ER,” Tiffany wrote about the night before Rachel’s diagnosis. “When I heard about her diagnosis, my heart shattered, and I immediately started crying. She has been on my mind constantly since I met her.”

I hadn’t known Tiffany professionally, but I was in the ER that night, and I was grateful for the kind words she sent months later.

“She was one of my most impactful patients,” Tiffany continued. “She was kind, even though I knew she was in so much pain.”

Tiffany spoke of Rachel becoming a flight nurse, and said, “She inspired me to be a better nurse and to believe in myself, that I can make all my dreams as a nurse come true. She makes me want to be a better person. I definitely believe our paths crossed for a reason, and I am forever grateful that they did, even though it was brief.”

I thanked Tiffany for her inspiring message. Now, ten months later, I saw her name on the list of donors to Rachel’s scholarship. When I wrote to thank her, she promptly responded, “Rachel touched me so much. I still think about her all the time. I know she will stay with me throughout my career as a nurse!”

Words, memories, and brief encounters change lives. Rachel changed Tiffany’s, and Tiffany changed mine. You never know where, when, or how your actions will change a life. Make sure it’s a change for good.

Thanks, Tiffany, for receiving Rachel’s gift and for passing it on to me and to those you care for in the hospital. And thank you for letting me share your experience with others.