Joette called me to help me get ready for an eye surgery that I was very upset about. It was late on a Friday, and I was fielding phone calls from different doctors' offices, making sure my medications wouldn't cause problems. Joette was peaceful and reassuring; she took her time and called me back when I had to answer another call. She made me feel like she cared about how I was feeling in that moment, going above and beyond the logistics of her job.

When I arrived for surgery the following Monday, a woman who was not my nurse came to my pre-op room just to say hello. It was Joette. She came and smiled and held my hand, and made me feel important.

She didn't have to do that, but she did, and she brought a little joy and laughter to an otherwise very scary moment.