A severely autistic and developmentally delayed patient was admitted to the cancer unit to be worked up for a potential cancer diagnosis. He came from an independent living boys' home and had a notable lack of family support.

The patient repeatedly verbally admitted he was scared and nervous. He had been getting scans done and many labs drawn, all of which caused major anxiety. Megan stayed with the patient and provided comfort and reassurance to him whenever he was about to break down. He had a fuzzy security blanket that he brought from his home that helped him cope during these difficult tests.

He unfortunately vomited all over the blanket, which resulted in it being too soiled to keep on his bed. Megan took the blanket home with her that evening, washed and dried it at a laundromat, and came in on her day off to return the blanket to him. His ear-to-ear smile when she walked in the room with his freshly cleaned blanket was contagious.

It was this small act of compassion and care that improved the unfortunate circumstances this boy was living. Megan went above and beyond for an extremely vulnerable patient during an extremely helpless time.