Despite my being an employee at Regions, I found myself admitted to the ED with what turned out to be kidney stones. I'd appreciate it if I could never have another kidney stone for as long as I live, but should it ever happen, I'd want to be under Frank's care again. I was certainly not the most pleasant patient, with persistent nausea and vomiting and SO frequently having to call to use the restroom, but Frank certainly didn't seem phased. It's worth noting that my admission was also during the sterile fluid shortage, meaning Frank had to manually push all of my pain meds (and I'm sure those of all of his other patients, too). It was so even when I had to stay hunched over an emesis bag, making some of the worst noises known to mankind. Still, he took the time to get to know me and to do everything he could to bring me pain relief, nausea relief, and even some socialization (I was new to MN and in the ED alone). We connected as two drum corps geeks, and in extreme pain episodes, Frank used his personal phone to pull up drum corps videos to watch to distract me from my pain until he could find a better intervention. He absolutely did not have to take that sort of time or care. I heard all of the traumas and code strokes rolling in, and yet Frank still made me feel like a priority, never left me waiting, wonderfully explained all of what he was doing, AND frequently checked in to make sure I was hanging in there okay. I was beyond grateful.

Then, long-story-short, I wound up back in the ED the following 2 days. I saw Frank again both times, just in different roles. Even so, he took the care to acknowledge me and continue some of our prior conversations. I wouldn't expect that sort of thing in most hospitals, but ESPECIALLY not from an ED nurse. Regions has a gem in him. It doesn't even feel totally fair to say Frank went above and beyond. The care and peace of mind he gave me surpassed that. As I've returned to work in recent weeks, I've found myself lingering just a bit longer in common areas, hoping to run into Frank just to give him a big hug and to personally let him know how immensely grateful I am.