I went in for surgery at the Mission Bay campus after suffering from abdominal pain for over three months. Once the surgery was completed, I got transferred to my room at the Adult Acute Care Surgical Unit, as my nurse walked in. My nurse had just started her overnight shift for the evening and introduced herself, "Hello. My name is Lama, and I'll be with you all night, making sure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible." At that moment, my wife and my parents all entered my hospital room, in a state of nervousness and concern, not knowing my state post surgery. Lama Ashkar had worked with my nurse practitioner prior to my arrival and was fully briefed on my condition. As soon as she observed the concern on my wife and parents' faces, she had them sit next to my bedside and informed them of the details of my current state and what was to be expected, pertaining to recovery in the following days. It was remarkable to see the faces of my immediate family members as my mother teared up, thanking Lama for the relief and peace of mind she provided.

The empathy and care Lama exuded provided my family members a sense of relief and a belief that I was going to be in "good hands", as if they were tending to me. They left that evening knowing I was going to be provided all the comfort I would have received if I was in my own home. Four of the five nights I was in the hospital, Lama kept her promise to my family and cared for me as if I was her family member. Her attention to detail and constant checking up on me to make my stay as comfortable as it could be were commendable. I looked forward to Lama coming in every evening, as our conversations about my condition provided me hope and peace of mind. She made my stay as enjoyable and comfortable as it could possibly be. Empathy, compassion, and general concern for an ailing person are traits you simply can't teach. It's something you just have in you...something you provide not just to one patient but all your patients on a daily basis. UCSF hit the lottery with Lama Ashkar. Your facility does not just have a very knowledgeable nurse, but you have a nurse who genuinely cares for her patients and will go the extra mile for them to make sure they are cared for. You are so lucky to have her on your team, as I was to have her as my nurse during a difficult period of my life.