August 2026 Honoree
Maria Sprague, BSN, RN, BMTCN
Maria truly feels like family. Every time we see her, it’s clear that she genuinely has our best interests at heart. I’ve known her for 12 years, ever since I first started coming to UCH, and throughout all that time, she has been consistently supportive, caring, and genuinely happy to see us.
She always greets us with the same warmth and kindness, no matter how much time has passed or what we’re going through. We spent a couple of years receiving care at another hospital, and during that time, we never connected with anyone the way we connect with Maria and the nurses in the BIC. Coming back to UCH felt like coming home, and one of the biggest reasons we wanted to return was because we missed people like Maria.
She has a way of making us feel seen, cared for, and understood in a way that is truly rare. I know that Maria always wants what is best for me. She has been a steady and comforting presence through every stage of my care.
In fact, she even inspired my wife to become a nurse, something we never expected when this journey began. My wife went to nursing school and now works at UCH, and that decision was heavily influenced by the incredible care and kindness she witnessed from Maria and the entire BIC team. Maria didn’t just impact my health; she influenced the direction of our family’s life.
From my point of view, Maria is the best. There is just something special about her, something genuine and comforting that makes a real difference. Even though she is doing important work right now, I would still love to have her as my bedside nurse again. Nurses like Maria are rare, and when you find someone like her, it changes the way you feel about your healthcare experience. She is a big part of why UCH still feels like the right place for us.
She always greets us with the same warmth and kindness, no matter how much time has passed or what we’re going through. We spent a couple of years receiving care at another hospital, and during that time, we never connected with anyone the way we connect with Maria and the nurses in the BIC. Coming back to UCH felt like coming home, and one of the biggest reasons we wanted to return was because we missed people like Maria.
She has a way of making us feel seen, cared for, and understood in a way that is truly rare. I know that Maria always wants what is best for me. She has been a steady and comforting presence through every stage of my care.
In fact, she even inspired my wife to become a nurse, something we never expected when this journey began. My wife went to nursing school and now works at UCH, and that decision was heavily influenced by the incredible care and kindness she witnessed from Maria and the entire BIC team. Maria didn’t just impact my health; she influenced the direction of our family’s life.
From my point of view, Maria is the best. There is just something special about her, something genuine and comforting that makes a real difference. Even though she is doing important work right now, I would still love to have her as my bedside nurse again. Nurses like Maria are rare, and when you find someone like her, it changes the way you feel about your healthcare experience. She is a big part of why UCH still feels like the right place for us.
Thank you, Maria, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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