August 2025
Marvin F
Bonaga
,
RN
6 South
Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center
San Francisco
,
CA
United States
Marvin tried tirelessly to help me emotionally as I was falling apart. The continued small doses of kindness he gave me were worth more than gold.
I am a 58-year-old disabled adult with a 30-year chronic pain condition and now, apparently, heart failure. I fled San Diego two months ago for my physical safety after five years of emotional and physical abuse. I was also told, just before escaping, that I most likely have early-onset dementia by two different doctors after reporting my symptoms.
When I got to San Francisco—because I was forced to leave before I was prepared—my money ran out. I am now homeless in the city of San Francisco. I had another attack and was taken to the ER, and that’s when the heart failure was discovered. At 58, I now only have the clothes on my back.
Marvin Bonaga was my nurse when I was moved to the hospital room, and he was so amazing. He actually made me laugh during this situation. He went so far above and beyond. He was my sounding board and my therapist. He was my cheerleader. I cannot tell you how important that was to me. I really have absolutely nobody in this world. I am totally alone. Marvin tried tirelessly to help me emotionally as I was falling apart. The continued small doses of kindness he gave me were worth more than gold.
I have many times, at this point, considered suicide just to escape this life. Marvin ran interference for me with hospital staff and doctors, and that seriously lessened my stress levels. He tried so hard and was so nice to me that it made me feel like I was still a human being. Because when you become homeless, you stop being treated as a real person. It is devastating to endure, but it happens all the time. You become a burden to society, and people just want you to disappear, as if that could ever just happen. You are no longer important to anyone, and you are treated dreadfully.
But not by Marvin. He treated me like I was the most important person in the world. I was shocked that anybody really cared what happened to me at all. He treated me like a king. He cared. He tried when nobody else really cared. Marvin was a godsend. I could never tell you what those small bits of kindness meant to me.
When everybody just wants you to be gone, out of the way, or silent about how the world is now… Marvin didn’t ignore me. He treated me with respect and decency. You cannot know how important that is until you no longer have it.
Thank you.
When I got to San Francisco—because I was forced to leave before I was prepared—my money ran out. I am now homeless in the city of San Francisco. I had another attack and was taken to the ER, and that’s when the heart failure was discovered. At 58, I now only have the clothes on my back.
Marvin Bonaga was my nurse when I was moved to the hospital room, and he was so amazing. He actually made me laugh during this situation. He went so far above and beyond. He was my sounding board and my therapist. He was my cheerleader. I cannot tell you how important that was to me. I really have absolutely nobody in this world. I am totally alone. Marvin tried tirelessly to help me emotionally as I was falling apart. The continued small doses of kindness he gave me were worth more than gold.
I have many times, at this point, considered suicide just to escape this life. Marvin ran interference for me with hospital staff and doctors, and that seriously lessened my stress levels. He tried so hard and was so nice to me that it made me feel like I was still a human being. Because when you become homeless, you stop being treated as a real person. It is devastating to endure, but it happens all the time. You become a burden to society, and people just want you to disappear, as if that could ever just happen. You are no longer important to anyone, and you are treated dreadfully.
But not by Marvin. He treated me like I was the most important person in the world. I was shocked that anybody really cared what happened to me at all. He treated me like a king. He cared. He tried when nobody else really cared. Marvin was a godsend. I could never tell you what those small bits of kindness meant to me.
When everybody just wants you to be gone, out of the way, or silent about how the world is now… Marvin didn’t ignore me. He treated me with respect and decency. You cannot know how important that is until you no longer have it.
Thank you.