A nurse’s quiet act of compassion brings comfort to a grieving family

DELAND, Fla. — On a quiet morning in DeLand, before the day shift began and long after a night shift ended, a quiet act of care took place at a gravesite. No announcement. No recognition. Just a nurse, placing a painted rock.

For Sandie Nina, the loss of her 26-year-old son was sudden and devastating. In the weeks that followed, even visiting his resting place carried a new kind of weight. The headstone had not yet arrived, leaving an empty space where something permanent would one day stand.

So her family created something of their own.

They painted rocks together and placed them at the site. For Nina’s young grandson, it became a way to feel connected to his father. For the family, it offered something tangible as they grieved.

Those rocks became markers of love. Then, quietly, they began to multiply.

Bianca Villalona, now a registered nurse at AdventHealth DeLand, had trained Nina years earlier when they both worked as certified nursing assistants. Over time, their relationship grew into something deeper, shaped by long shifts, shared milestones and a connection that felt more like family than coworkers.

When Nina’s son died, Villalona did what she had always done as a nurse and as a friend.

“The first person at my door,” Nina said. “She didn’t call; she just came.”

In the early days, Nina leaned on her faith to make sense of the loss.

“In the beginning, it was hard; you’re questioning everything,” she said. “But now it gives me hope, some sense of calmness when everything else is chaotic.”

That sense of peace, she believes, came not only through time, but also through the people placed around her.

“She was given to me by God for comfort and friendship,” Nina said of Villalona.

For Villalona, the decision to care for Nina in that way felt both personal and deeply rooted in who she is.

“In nursing school, you learn how to treat people, but they don’t teach you how to be caring and about compassion,” Villalona said. “Being there for someone like this — that comes from who you are.

“We’re here to help each other through hard times. We take such great care of our patients, but we also have to remember that we have to take care of each other.”

After learning that family members from across the country wanted to contribute, Villalona began placing their painted rocks at the gravesite herself. Each day, often after working 12-hour overnight shifts at AdventHealth DeLand, she would stop by before Nina arrived, making sure there was something new waiting.

For weeks, Nina noticed new rocks appearing at just the right moments.

Sonic the Hedgehog – her grandson’s favorite character – was waiting for him one day. Other rocks carried simple messages or bright colors that stood out against the ground.

It was not until a cemetery worker mentioned “your friend, the nurse” that Nina realized who had been behind it.

Even when exhausted, Villalona continued the quiet routine, knowing the difference it could make.

Over time, the collection of rocks grew, each one representing a connection, a memory or a quiet reminder that Nina and her family were not alone.

For Nina, the impact remains lasting.

“She gave me comfort,” she said. “Peace and friendship when I needed it most.”