I had just come out of an unexpectedly difficult hip surgery. Upon waking up from surgery I was in tremendous pain! Still unaware of my surrounding from anesthesia, I was yelling and screaming for help. I was thinking that I was accidentally waking up during surgery when Julie calmly whispered in my ear, "You need to calm down. You're out of surgery and I'm going to take care of you." While she was whispering in my ear, she also had her arms wrapped around me, hugging me. I stopped screaming and looked at her and instantly knew I was in good hands. Her eyes showed such compassion, her grip holding my hand gave me instant comfort, and her confident endearing words allowed peace to come over me.

Unfortunately, I have a lot of experience with nurses, doctors, hospitals, surgery, etc. due to battling gastroparesis and bowel obstructions for the last 23 years. I've had wonderful doctors, nurses, and surgeons but there is something special about Julie. She was so great that my husband and I felt as if she was like having your mother right there with you caring for you. The only difference was that she wasn't actually my mom. Her care was so phenomenal!

My surgery was the day before Thanksgiving so my main goal after surgery was to go home. After the very difficult lengthy surgery, my doctors suggested I stay the night. Julie knew how much I desperately wanted to go home so she did everything in her power to help make that happen. Being genuine and having compassion are attributes one cannot fake. It's something you feel. Julie made me feel safe, that I could rely on her, and that I could trust her. That's something I've never felt from a nurse before. That is why Julie is so unique. There are so many caring, polite, wonderful nurses out there, but when you find one as genuine as Julie you take the time to recognize them! I hope I was able to articulate how wonderful of a person and nurse Julie Rindels truly is!