Good Samaritan – Brandy Villarreal
Congratulations to Brandy Villarreal, Director of Nursing Services, on receiving the Good Samaritan Award! Brandy was nominated for going above and beyond to help comfort those in need.
“I am honored to nominate Brandy Villarreal for the Good Samaritan Award in recognition of her extraordinary kindness and selflessness, during a desperate time of need.
My husband and I experienced the scariest event of our lives on January 10th when our 4-year-old son went into respiratory distress and had to be emergently transported to Med Center Health. Due to it being so early in the morning, and such a sudden event, we were unable to take our other two children to stay with others. This required our 9-year-old and 6-year-old daughters to accompany my husband and I in the Emergency Department, while their younger brother received care. The Emergency Department can be a scary place for children, especially when they are watching their sibling struggle to breathe. Brandy didn’t hesitate to offer help the moment she found out. She got to the hospital as soon as she could and took it upon herself to take my older two children with her and ensured they were well cared for. Brandy provided not only a safe environment but also emotional support during a stressful time.
Brandy organized activities to keep the children engaged and happy, ensuring they felt secure and loved despite the circumstances. She fed them breakfast, helped them create a get well soon poster, and loved on them; all while managing her own responsibilities. Our daughters were understandably worried about their little brother, and Brandy’s ability to provide a calm and positive environment for them made a significant difference in their outlook of that morning. Our hope was that the scariest time of our life would not end up being the scariest time of our daughter’s young lives, as well. Thanks to Brandy, this was not the case. Instead of talking about how fearful they were regarding their brother’s health, they spoke about how much fun they had spending time with Brandy. She shielded their hearts and their eyes from what could have been a traumatic memory for them, and we will be forever grateful.
By going above and beyond, Brandy exemplified the true spirit of a Good Samaritan. Her actions provided immediate comfort and relief to my entire family, during our time of need. It allowed my husband and I to focus on our sick child without having to worry about whether our other children were being taken care of. She truly has a servant’s heart, and I am grateful for her unwavering kindness, compassion, and commitment to caring for others. Throughout our hospital stay, she continued to serve in any way she could. This was exemplified by bringing us breakfast, checking on our son, and offering a listening ear. She is a shining example of how one person can make a significant impact in the lives of others through acts of love and service. Words cannot express our love and gratitude for her.” – Courtney Livingston