I have been battling through an extensive esophagus repair of a large tear. Had 3 procedures and had just been informed of a heavy meeting with my chief surgeon and he wanted my daughter and sweetheart to participate the following day. Nothing was healing as hoped and we were running out of options. This was a hard blow to deal with and I needed some extensive time to myself that evening to get myself gathered, centered, and in a good place moving forward. I asked Emerald, who was my night nurse, to get me that time without the constant, usual hospital interruptions. This was essential to me that evening to have that time to myself.

Much more important to my overall spiritual, emotional, and mental health than the hospital could provide that evening. She said she would take care of things and I called her my “Hall Guard”. She was true to her word and obviously cared more about me than anything else. At that moment, that evening, at KU Med, Emerald was a blessing for me. She was more than anything the entire hospital could have provided to take good care of me. She checked back in when we had agreed and I had gotten myself in a great place, for whatever was ahead. Emerald was who I needed at that time to be my night nurse, that evening. She will always be extraordinary to me and special. I am moving on to my next surgery with great hope now.