I have been a patient here at Boswell many times. I have a vascular disease that causes a lot of pain, and due to an "average life expectancy of 40 years," I also have a lot of stress and anxiety when I'm sick or hurting. I have seen family members pass away way too young, and my fear goes immediately to 100%. This is something I try hard to deal with, but I'm not always successful. Earlier today, I had a surgeon come in for a consult. I felt (right or wrong) that the surgeon was gaslighting me, and I felt silly and unheard. It had been a long day for me as I was in a lot of pain.

My nurse noticed just how stressed I was, and she was thoughtful enough to speak with me about what I interpreted the doctor as saying. She actually explained to me what he was trying to say, and she handled it very well. She eased my frustration with the surgeon, and she was wonderful at easing my frazzled nerves. She is well-spoken and easy to understand. She also has really good people skills, and her compassion and empathy were very soothing in a place that is not typically soothing. Everyone was kind, but she did more; she explained things very well and made me feel safe.

It's becoming harder and harder to find caregivers (such as nurses) who still love what they do, regardless of the crunch for caregivers in the medical field. As today's healthcare arena gets harder to navigate, I find her to be a beacon of light in a sometimes depressing place. In my opinion, Banner is a better place because of her. I was considering leaving AMA, and she alone was the reason that I stayed and received great care! I hope she gets acknowledged because she made all the difference!