I recently had to spend a somewhat stressful night at CHOMP and although everyone was courteous and responsive, there was one nurse and her aide who were just extra and I want to give them virtual hugs. My nurse Linda has a way of creating a human connection that felt genuine and caring. You can take fine care of another person without creating a connection, but some people can tap deeper into their well of empathy. It can be difficult to do when one is tired and busy, but Linda obviously can. Perhaps she pauses before interacting with her patients and tells herself "this is the most important thing I have to do right now - all else can wait." She was present, she was kind, she made every effort to make me as comfortable as possible. I could see her kind smile through her mask and that put me at ease.

She even stopped in to check on me as she was on her way out the door. Her bag was over her arm, but she took one moment; which may seem so insignificant, and it made me feel valued. Separately, all of these things can seem so unimportant, but being in the hospital is stressful, uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing. Having a caregiver who makes you feel like you are someone who is worth their time makes a huge difference.

I work with a dozen two-year-olds every day. The difference between chaos and harmony lies in genuine human connections... taking the time to put everything else in the back while you focus on the present. You are lucky to have her and I was fortunate to have her as my nurse.