I’ve been suffering for three years with benign tumors in my spleen that are very aggressive and keep returning every year. A week ago, I was admitted to ER due to severe pain, and the decision was made to remove my spleen. I waited until Monday to see my consultant, and he recommended immediate surgery. My mother and I obtained approval from the insurance ourselves since the hospital’s insurance department was taking too long, and the consultant wanted to arrange the surgery for the next day, otherwise it would have to be Thursday, and my pain was so severe I had to double my dose of morphine and was reaching the limit. When this Nurse came on shift, I was crying because the insurance department at the hospital hadn’t even emailed my insurance yet, let alone processed my approval.

By midnight, I was freaking out that my surgery would get delayed as I was in so much pain and I was so anxious. This nurse personally chased after the unit chief, the chief of the last unit I was in, the insurance department, and the on-call doctor to try to get it sorted. She went and convinced the on-call doctor to give me morphine early (the other unit always gave it to me half an hour late) because I was in severe pain and brought it very rapidly. She ensured I had enough anti-nausea, made sure I had taken my home-prescribed pills, and even tried to arrange a bed for my mother to sleep in.

When I started having a panic attack because there was nobody working in the emergency department, she went to the doctor and arranged for me to have anti-anxiety medicine since I would need sleep if I were to have the surgery by some miracle and since she knew stress was very bad for my lupus. She personally spoke to a friend of hers on the morning shift to ensure the insurance department was pressured to process it first thing in the morning and conveyed to everyone the severity of my pain and that it really had to be done soon. She helped calm me down with her kindness while I was waiting for the anxiety medicine to work. When I woke up, I was informed by the morning staff that this nurse had told them all of the severity of my situation, that the colleagues she asked to ensure the insurance department processed it had succeeded, and that her advice for me to fast was excellent, as I could now have the surgery.

When I woke up after a nap following the surgery, I was so happy to see her back. She promised the impossible - to arrange surgery for me within less than 12 hours - and actually followed through. When I’m too tired to notice, she reminds me that the PCA pump light turns green. When I had an allergy to the surgical tape, she fashioned an alternative after micropore. When I stressed about the insurance not letting me stay long enough after to recover properly, she told me not to worry, it will be handled. Her kindness and caring attitude were the only reason I could sleep the night before the surgery and is the reason I’m well enough to even type this recommendation now, a few hours after.