Some moments remind us why we choose this work, and Kaitlyn Carroll, an RN at Kettering Health Hamilton, created one of those unforgettable moments. When a patient expressed his final wish to marry his longtime partner before discharging home with hospice, she stepped in with compassion, determination, and extraordinary care to make it happen. 

She took the initiative to coordinate every detail, ensuring the legal requirements and the emotional significance were honored. Kaitlyn downloaded and helped complete the marriage license paperwork, secured the necessary physician signatures, and arranged notarization so the documents would be valid. When faced with finding someone to officiate on short notice, she got creative, discovering a local minister, who also serves on the Kettering Hamilton board, happened to be a patient and was willing to perform the ceremony. 

She didn’t stop there. Kaitlyn collaborated with the dietary team to provide celebratory food and drinks and gathered beautiful decorations from IPR to make the space feel festive, warm, and full of love. What could have been an ordinary hospital day became a sacred memory, one that honored life, love, and humanity. 

Her nominator shared that Kaitlyn’s care and compassion “remind all of us why we do what we do.” 

Kaitlyn, thank you for truly Living the Mission through your extraordinary kindness and congratulations on this deeply deserved honor.