I first got to know her 10 years ago when I started working in hospital. My first impression of her was that she was what we call Maltese ‘tal-pepè’.

It was only when I worked with her at the diabetic clinic at St Luke’s Hospital that I realised that one cannot judge people by their polite English accent.

At last she got what she deserved. Moira Grixti SNO of the diabetic clinic finally got to win the worker of the year award. Some people often mention saints, actresses, missionaries, etc, as their idols but I for one would choose Moira.

In all my years I had the fortune of working with her, I have never heard her raise her voice once either to doctors, staff or patients. I guess that there are various reasons why this worker is so loved; for one thing she is calm and tolerant and therefore her qualities act like air-conditioning in a room. They help to increase her efficiency, which is always a 100 per cent whether her patients are old or young.

Every situation this wonderful nursing officer faces, she faces it with love and the respect she has gained over the years. She was, is and always will be valuable because of her loving, sweet and cooperative nature. Having worked in St Luke’s Hospital for a number of years now and having had the pleasure of meeting and working with a lot of SNOs I have yet to meet a nurse like Moira whose patients always come first, even before her own family.

Many times we write to mention some famous musician, actor, singer. Very rarely do we mention those unsung heroes or heroines who do so much to improve the lives of others, yet whose work is not sounded like a blow from a trumpet. All too often we forget how wonderful some people are, especially those who give and expect to receive nothing in return.

If I live to be 100 years old I know I will never meet another Moira; it is very difficult to meet somebody who is so compassionate, humble, kind, tolerant and just about so perfect. Moira Grixti lives in a manner that others can learn from.

If I can find any fault with her it is because she is “so good”; she is precisely purity’s light, a light that is not confined by boundaries of colour, sex, race, religious beliefs, etc, but who is able to see far beyond and experience each and every human being as her brother or sister. Each and every one of us that work in the diabetes clinic all share the same thoughts about Moira Grixti: to know you is to love you Moira.

Congratulations.

Valerie Borg and all the staff at the diabetes clinic,

Gwardamangia