Sheila was an absolutely wonderful nurse as I was recovering. This surgery was incredibly emotional for my husband and me, and neither of us wanted to be there in the first place. But the one thing that made it bearable was the care I was given afterwards by Sheila. She advocated for me when I was having pain, and my BP / HR were extremely low, by taking the time to call my doctor and discuss a less harsh pain management option than Fentanyl and Morphine (as the doctor originally suggested). She continuously checked in on me and closely monitored me. She brought me warm blankets and let me nap (never once rushing me). She answered all our questions with compassion and knowledge. She was extra cautious when I stood up to walk for the first time and truly cared about my well-being and safety. She even wheel-chaired me all the way outside the main entrance to where my husband was waiting with the car, all while keeping a friendly smile on her face.

Most importantly, and above all, her clinical excellence, she told us, “I’m sorry” and offered genuine empathy and curiosity when my surgery was mentioned. I understand how easy it is to occasionally forget to show true compassion and empathy to all patients, especially as we get accustomed to seeing the same things day after day and get busy, tired and burnt out. But Sheila is a reminder of the impact that never losing your sense of empathy can have on a person. She was the perfect example of a nurse who remembers that her patients are still humans, often times going through emotionally tough and devastating situations. Instead of letting compassion fatigue and detachment get the best of her, she put 100% effort into my care that day.

Sheila, we can never thank you enough for making a crappy day a little less crappy and giving me the space to recover and grieve.