Former Patient Invites Favorite Madison Hospital Nurse to Her 100th Birthday Celebration

Nurses often wonder how their patients are doing after they leave the hospital. Registered nurse Ramah Mohsin doesn’t have to wonder about one of his favorite former patients — they grew so close that she invited him to her 100th birthday party on July 3.

Kathleen Contillo spent more than a week in Madison Hospital’s Acute Surgical Care Unit this spring after developing pneumonia. She appreciated all of her caregivers but felt especially drawn to Ramah, who is just 27 years old.

Kathleen’s daughter, Jan Pickard, said Ramah “just had this aura about him. He was so patient and caring with my mother, and she would do exactly what he said. It was just a really close bond between them.”

That trust came naturally — Kathleen was a nurse herself in her younger years, having worked for a prominent family doctor in Huntsville. That shared passion for caregiving gave the two an instant connection, despite their 73-year age difference.

Ramah said he and Kathleen got to know each other while chatting about family. When he arrived in her room each morning, she would ask to see a photo of his infant daughter. For his part, Ramah made sure Kathleen looked and felt her best despite being in the hospital.

“Every morning she would jokingly say, ‘My boyfriend is here,’ and wanted to put on her lipstick,” Ramah said. “She also liked having her nails done. She looks amazing and is just a superstar.”

After serving as Kathleen’s primary nurse for three consecutive days, Ramah was due for time off. But when Kathleen asked if she would see him the next morning, he couldn’t say no — he volunteered to work two more shifts that week.

Jan said her mother was insistent about having Ramah present for her milestone 100th birthday. The party took place at Merrill Gardens, a senior living community next door to Madison Hospital where Kathleen has resided since 2020.

“She just fell head over heels for Ramah and had to have him at her party,” Jan said.

A native of Yemen who moved to the U.S. as a child, Ramah leads with deep empathy and a true caregiver’s heart. He shared that losing his 19-year-old sister to a chronic illness inspired him to earn his nursing degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. In addition to caring for patients on the Acute Surgical Care Unit since 2023, Ramah mentors aspiring RNs and plans to become a nurse practitioner.

“Madison Hospital is a great place to work,” Ramah said. “I love it here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Jan credits Ramah and the rest of the Madison Hospital team with helping get her mother back to her active self after a lengthy illness. Today, Kathleen uses a walker to get around but continues to live independently as a centenarian.

“If something happens to me, take me to Ramah’s unit on the fourth floor,” Jan said. “He’s never too hurried and always goes above and beyond the call of duty. We couldn’t have asked for a better nurse.”