I got to know Mekdes very well during my wife Paulette Slade’s long stay at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary from December 1, 2015, until Paulette’s passing at age 61 from complications of lupus, etc., on April 1, 2020. Mekdes was a nurse’s aid in Unit 32 for about 3 years while Paulette was a patient there and for the most part was bed-ridden. She worked often with Paulette in order to do such things as clean her bed regularly, talk to her, make her comfortable and, most of all, she would assist Paulette in having a regular shower. That involved using a lift to get her out of bed and onto a stretcher to take her to the shower room. It was a difficult, timely ordeal, as Paulette was always in pain and had to be handled gently. Paulette would always ask for Mekdes as she had so much respect for, confidence and trust in her. She was always very dedicated to her work and is a very compassionate person. She seemed to always attack every task in her profession head-on and do her utmost best. I never heard Mekdes complain about the work she had to do – no matter how difficult – and she always acted in a highly professional manner. Mekdes and Paulette became good friends during their time together and would talk about her illness and life in general. I believe that is a very important part of interaction with a chronic patient. She came into Paulette’s room after her death and was very emotional as she had lost a friend. It affected her a lot. She has called me regularly over the past nearly two years and always asks how I and our little dog Saffron, who visited every day with me for 4 years and 4 months, are doing. I do not hesitate in saying that Mekdes is a valuable asset to her profession in the health industry.