Early on in a busy night shift, Tina came to help draw labs on a hem/onc patient. She has amazing IV skills so she got the difficult stick on the first try, much to the relief of the anxious parents and staff. On her way out of the room, another patient's mom who remembered her from a previous admission many years ago greeted her. I was sitting at the nurse's station nearby and was able to overhear what happened next.

Tina remembered the teenage boy who had been in and out of Children's since a very young age and was happy to go with his mom to say hello in his room. He recognized her, and they immediately started telling stories from over the years. When Tina asked why he was back at Children's again he told her about how he had found out two weeks before that he had relapsed after treatment for cancer and had to come back to start more treatment. He was particularly nervous and concerned about needing radiation. He had never had the treatment before and he was not sure he could handle it and the side effects. Tina began telling him a story about how her son had needed radiation many years ago and how he had also been scared but he had gotten through it and that technology had made it even better now. She encouraged the patient that he could do it and began to describe what it would be like and offered ideas on how to deal with the procedure. She was positive while still being honest. They continued to talk for a bit until she was called to another floor.

After she left, I went by to talk with the patient and family about what I had observed. They were incredibly moved that she remembered him and had shared her personal experience. The patient confided that it had helped ease his mind to hear her encouragement. They sang her praises and I do too. She is a consistently positive and professional nurse, who always gives her best to her patients and co-workers.