Kaytlin stands out because of the exemplary care she gave me while I was here. When I had a question, she always had a ready answer or would find out in a timely manner. When you are stuck in the hospital, you kind of count on them keeping their word, like when your nurse says I’ll be back in, or I’ll get. Believe, me you count on her keeping her word. Kaytlin always did what she said, no "sorry got tied up" or anything else. You have plenty of time to keep track of what they say and whether they follow through. That means a lot to a patient. She never let me down!

The second to my last day there, I received my diagnosis of inoperative lung cancer. I was sitting on the edge of my bed in a very dark place. I think the technical term would be lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut! My eyes had sprung leaks. Kaytlin came into my room and asked me what was wrong. I told her of my diagnosis. She sat next to me and put her arm around my shoulder and said, “I’m so sorry, you’re a good guy, you can fight this!” I looked up at her, there was a tear on her cheek! This nurse cared about me! Me, a 68-year-old, Air Force vet without 2 nickels to rub together. It hit me like a bag full of hammers, that she cared about what happened to me! A rich man could not have paid for better care than what I had received. The fact that she cared about me made me feel as though my life mattered to my young nurse. Somehow, as crazy as it may seem, I felt kind of lucky. How could she have known what to say or do? In my opinion, this can’t be taught or learned, it has to come from a much deeper place.

As her shift was over that day, I told her to go home and tell her significant other that he doesn’t know how lucky he is. Now it’s my turn to tell you folks, you have no idea how lucky you are to have Kaytlin as part of your organization.