November 2025 Honoree
Susan Ayres, BSN, RN
I was in the PACU following surgery. I remember waking up and panicking, not knowing where I was. Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw the aftermath of an injury I sustained in the military decades ago. I kept asking Susan where I was and what had happened to me. I was babbling incoherently.
Susan was kind. She calmly repeated where I was each time I asked. She kept humoring me. She made me feel safe when I thought I was somewhere else. She helped me to fully "wake up" without jumping out of bed and running away.
It must have been close to 1800 hrs. I hadn't eaten since the prior evening and was famished. Susan made sure I ordered food, even bent the rules a little and allowed me to order an entree plus a cheeseburger!
A few minutes after settling in, there comes Susan with my dinner. She didn't send it up... she brought it to me herself and made sure I got my food while it was still warm. I ate every last bit of it.
Before you say "that's her job," please keep in mind that she went way beyond her job.
Susan was kind. She calmly repeated where I was each time I asked. She kept humoring me. She made me feel safe when I thought I was somewhere else. She helped me to fully "wake up" without jumping out of bed and running away.
It must have been close to 1800 hrs. I hadn't eaten since the prior evening and was famished. Susan made sure I ordered food, even bent the rules a little and allowed me to order an entree plus a cheeseburger!
A few minutes after settling in, there comes Susan with my dinner. She didn't send it up... she brought it to me herself and made sure I got my food while it was still warm. I ate every last bit of it.
Before you say "that's her job," please keep in mind that she went way beyond her job.
Thank you, Susan, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
View More Honorees