Rachelle Dorothy Nepomuceno, RN

As a cancer patient, I live in constant pain, and I know I can be grumpy. I've been called difficult more times than I can count, but Rachelle never saw me that way. Instead, she looked at me with kindness in her eyes - never with pity, but with true understanding. Her presence alone brought comfort, and she always made sure I was not just cared for, but truly seen. No matter how rough my day was, she always greeted me with a warm smile that could be seen through those eyes, one that felt genuine and not forced. She laughed with me, even if I wasn't in the mood to joke, somehow knowing when I needed a distraction and when I just needed someone to listen. She took the time to explain things, adjusted my care when I was in too much pain to even move. She never made me feel like I was another patient on her list. Made me feel like a person first, not just someone with a diagnosis. I have been in the hospital a lot, but I have never met anyone with a heart like Rachelle's. My family and I cannot thank her enough. She deserves to be recognized.