February 2018
Gerald
Abito
,
RN
Resource Pool
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Anchorage
,
AK
United States

 

 

 

I was very scared and depressed because I was left with a colostomy bag after emergency surgery. I felt embarrassed and the other staff really helped out. Gerald was my evening nurse, he stood out the most.
I had a leak in my bag for the first time and I just wanted to cry and hide. Gerald came into my recovery room and saw. Gerald said, "no worries" and made me feel at ease with his kind heart and voice; he made me smile and I even cracked a joke!
Gerald went above and beyond and made me feel like a friend, not a patient and by the end of just 2 nights with him, I was changing my own colostomy bags and emptying them. Which for just anyone with something like this that is new, it's a big deal!
I would not have had the courage or strength to do so without Gerald's help. Gerald is a great, kind, and selfless man. Thank you, Gerald, for your kindness and way of making a sad, uncomfortable situation so bearable. The best part, Gerald made my sense of humor come out and my confidence come out. I went home a pro, thank you.