Share Your Memory

January 2014 the Nyien’s arrived in California to ski at Lake Tahoe. My wife Svetlana and I were to meet them at Northstar at 9:00 but they didn’t arrive. 9:30 I called Patti asking, “Where are you guys?” and she responded, “In Nevada” I asked, “What are you doing in Nevada? Northstar is on the west side of the lake and Nevada is east.” She hesitated and responded, “I guess Harvey made a wrong turn.” Those reading this might be aware that Harvey self-proclaims to be directionally challenged.

Three cups of hot-chocolate latter we are still watching the gondola coming up from the parking lot from which they should arrive but they have not. From behind I hear voices that sound like Kevin and Kindra and here they come, the whole Nyien gang less Harvey. I asked, “How did you get up here?” and Kindra said “We skied down out…

Our family had gone skiing in Jackson Hole (one of the most difficult ski resorts in the USA). Kindra and I had decided to seek out some of the more advanced chutes there. As we headed down, we continuously took the more difficult way down until we arrived at the precipice of a series of cliffs. As I looked down this incredibly treacherous run, I could only see one 'line' that looked like it would work, and it had no room for error. I turned to Kindra and said, "I've gotta admit I'm a little scared." She replied "good. Now go."

There is no doubt that Sinai has a heart. It’s strong pulse is felt by anyone who enters through the door. Just as the human heart is made up of cells, Sinai’s heart is made up of it’s dedicated employees. Kindra Nelson made up a large portion of that vigorous heart. Hers, so in tuned with all the rest of patients in need, and their community. She couldn’t help her self, but to get involved in Sinai’s improvement projects. Where and when Sinai was struggling Kindra was there to figure it out. It is through these improvement projects scattered across the time line how I got to know Kindra.

When I was working to improve oral care in the ICU’s, and needed to present it to the Shared Governance Committee, there was no surprise that Kindra’s face was one of the few in the audience. Her presence so big.…