The 4 West leadership team wanted to recognize Natalie Cruz for going out of her way to create an impact for one of our patients going through a challenging time. This is not the first time Natalie has made an impact on her patients because she is the type of nurse that will check in on a former patient just to wish them well and say hello.

It was on the Friday at the end of Nurses' Week. The 4 West staff were in a good mood, but there was a young patient experiencing a difficult moment. She had been diagnosed with a form of gastric cancer and had to be started on a treatment regimen as well as go to surgery during her unexpected stay in the hospital. The 4W staff had learned that the patient had already completed all her coursework and was actually supposed to be walking the stage for her TTU graduation. She, unfortunately, was stuck in the hospital. That’s when Natalie decided to do something special.

From Natalie, "I was the primary nurse and just felt bad that she was missing her graduation. It had been a busy day and we just wanted to do something nice for her." Over lunch, Natalie, amongst others, decided that they wanted to do something special for the patient. They wanted to celebrate her huge accomplishment, knowing they were limited with the hospital environment. One of our aids donated some money and Natalie paid for the rest of the gift, a stuffed animal, from the UMC gift shop. Then, Natalie talked our patient into putting on her cap and gown while her friends and family were in the room. Not only that, but she planned to gather many of the 4W staff who were available to go in and congratulate the patient all together. With the matador theme song playing, and graduation gift in hand, the group rushed in and made the patient feel truly special. The patient's parents were also very grateful, having had to wait a long time to see their daughter walk across the stage.

From the patient’s mother, “I am writing to express our deepest gratitude & admiration for the exceptional care and support that the 4 West nurses provided to our dearest child. As a parent, witnessing the dedication & compassion displayed by each member of your nursing staff has been both comforting & inspiring. From the moment we arrived, the nurses embraced us with warmth & empathy, creating a safe & nurturing environment for my child during her dark and challenging time. We wholeheartedly express our gratitude for making her graduation day memorable. She was not able to join the graduation ceremony because of her condition, yet the surprise visit made by the 4 West nurses indeed made her the happiest person at the moment. Their dedication serves as a beacon of hope & healing during this challenging time and we are forever grateful for the role they play in our child’s recovery journey. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”