My world was turned upside down in early 2018. Not to go into too much detail, but my optic nerve was compressed, and my eye was protruding severely. I was in constant horrible pain and was referred to the Bascom Palmer ED, it's a department I would visit countless times over 3 months for scheduled infusions or breakthrough pain and years later for subsequent issues. Nidal was my nurse for most of my visits, and if he wasn't, I would ask for him by name as he was a pro at finding my veins immediately. He was extremely empathetic and was amazing at distraction and cheering me up when I was at my lowest.

As cliché as it sounds, our conversations about traveling, food, etc., gave me hope. Funny enough, however, I never knew what he looked like as I was blind every time he took care of me; I only recognized his voice. That changed today. At this point, because of my years-long relationship with Bascom, when my mom started to see flashes and floaters, we knew exactly where to come. Nidal called for us and introduced himself, but I didn't catch his name. We were escorted into the same exam room I always went to, and as soon as my mom got a good look at his face, she asked me if he looked familiar. My response was "I don't know," and I reminded her of my previous blindness. I jokingly made a PTSD reference, and he asked about our history there and if he ever took care of us. So, I asked if he was indeed Nidal and expressed my appreciation for his incredible care for me back then. I was so grateful to be able to say thank you. I recently became a nurse myself and can honestly say he had a role in my career decision. During my ordeal, I saw that nurses are relegated to just skills or documentation, but their compassion and personal connections have the power to brighten your day during the darkest times. With all that said, Nidal will always have my heartfelt thanks