March 2026 Honoree
Mercy Nche, BSN, RN
Mercy,
I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for the incredible care you provided to my son during his stay in the detox unit this past November. I truly believe the way you cared for him helped save his life.
He had finally worked up the courage to go into the hospital for help, and he received not only the support he needed, but compassion and humanity on his very first serious attempt at sobriety. He made the decision to move into Lodging Plus for treatment after detox, and when he was discharged, he chose to transition into a sober house through Transitions.
Last week, he showed me a tattoo his girlfriend got him for his birthday; it says Mercy in beautiful calligraphy, along with the date he stopped drinking and was admitted to detox at M Health Fairview. He told me that everything started with the care you provided. That's the impact you had on him.
Before he left the unit, you pulled him aside and offered words he has carried with him. These are some of the things he remembered you saying:
"You do not belong here. Do whatever it takes to not come back here again."
"You don't need to make friends with peers at detox or treatment; just always remember to protect your own sobriety and to keep that at the forefront."
He said you made him feel seen for who he truly is, beyond the shame he carried from his addiction. The dignity and compassion he experienced throughout his care at Fairview from detox to Lodging Plus profoundly changed him, and it changed us as a family.
The difference you made in my son's life is, in my opinion, no different than a successful heart transplant or a Code Blue save. You helped give him his life back.
Since then, he has continued intensive outpatient treatment, started a new job in St. Paul, learned the bus line, and is working hard every day to rebuild. We have our son back - his bright mind, his clear eyes, his true personality.
As a parent, there are simply no words big enough for that kind of gratitude.
I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for the incredible care you provided to my son during his stay in the detox unit this past November. I truly believe the way you cared for him helped save his life.
He had finally worked up the courage to go into the hospital for help, and he received not only the support he needed, but compassion and humanity on his very first serious attempt at sobriety. He made the decision to move into Lodging Plus for treatment after detox, and when he was discharged, he chose to transition into a sober house through Transitions.
Last week, he showed me a tattoo his girlfriend got him for his birthday; it says Mercy in beautiful calligraphy, along with the date he stopped drinking and was admitted to detox at M Health Fairview. He told me that everything started with the care you provided. That's the impact you had on him.
Before he left the unit, you pulled him aside and offered words he has carried with him. These are some of the things he remembered you saying:
"You do not belong here. Do whatever it takes to not come back here again."
"You don't need to make friends with peers at detox or treatment; just always remember to protect your own sobriety and to keep that at the forefront."
He said you made him feel seen for who he truly is, beyond the shame he carried from his addiction. The dignity and compassion he experienced throughout his care at Fairview from detox to Lodging Plus profoundly changed him, and it changed us as a family.
The difference you made in my son's life is, in my opinion, no different than a successful heart transplant or a Code Blue save. You helped give him his life back.
Since then, he has continued intensive outpatient treatment, started a new job in St. Paul, learned the bus line, and is working hard every day to rebuild. We have our son back - his bright mind, his clear eyes, his true personality.
As a parent, there are simply no words big enough for that kind of gratitude.
Thank you, Mercy, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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