Once in a while someone crosses our path that truly stands out from the rest. I am talking about Nurse Don Ritchie.

I had surgery last December and ended up on the floor with a remarkable man to take care of me. His gentle way of talking put me at ease right away and the extra care he took to explain everything was appreciated. He also asked what he could do to make me more comfortable and that really showed he cared. But to my surprise, 8 hours later when his shift was over he came to tell me that and said something I will never forget. He said, “I really do not want you to be here tomorrow, but if you are I would like to be your nurse as you are a wonderful patient.”

As it turns out, I was still there and so glad to see him again. I got really scared as I suffer from panic attacks and he talked to me till I calmed down. And he also did some caring things to make me feel better. He totally understood how the medicine can make one feel anxious.

The next morning when his shift was over he told me bye and surprised me with some yogurt. He said he knew it was a favorite of mine and since he had no cake for my birthday it was the best he could do…remarkable! He wished me well and a fast recovery as he knew I would probably go home.

I also want to say that during my lifetime I have had a total of 13 surgeries and hospital stays. I raise a son with asthma and he required many days in the hospital. Starting from the age of 16 until now at 62, so when I say these things it is with a sincere heart.

I highly recommend Don for this DAISY award and I truly hope and pray it blesses him as much as he blessed me during a very difficult time.