This is my wife, Jessica, having dinner after a 14-hour shift. She comes home from work, has just enough time to eat and get ready for bed, then it’s back to work the next day for another shift.

She wakes up early to start her day. She doesn’t like to be bothered in the morning, and I respect that.

She showers, throws her hair up, grabs her lunch, gives the dog and me a kiss, and heads out the door.

At work, she cares for people on the worst days of their lives—strokes, car accidents, falls, brain injuries, and more.

She looks after mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends. No matter who you are or what happened, she will take care of you.

She works through lunch, rarely sitting down. After 14 hours, she comes home, takes off her shoes, which have walked through blood and tears, and just wants to sit.

I don’t ask her about her day because she doesn’t like to talk about work when she’s home, and I respect that.

But if she does want to talk, I’m there to listen. Sometimes she comes home happy, sometimes sad. But no matter how she feels, she’s always on time for her next shift.

I love her with all my heart. My wife is my hero. She’s a Stroke Nurse.

Credit: Philip Urtz