I was asked by a co-worker to check in on a newly diagnosed cancer patient. The patient was struggling and wanted to let someone know how Tucker made all the difference to him. 

“He always made my day as we could talk about anything. I was an emotional wreck. I would lay in bed and cry. Tucker did not tell me to stop crying, instead, he walked me to the bathroom and told me to wash myself and put on clean clothes. When he came back we walked around in the room. My bed was changed and he made up the chair so I could look out the window. The comfort I felt from his kindness turned me around. I’m an employee here for the last 33 years and I never thought I would end up here, on the cancer floor. It’s a very scary place to be. I’m an uneducated man who cannot read beyond the 5th grade. My talk is simple and I bump along in life. When I met Tucker I was immediately emotional because he put me at ease. I opened up to Tucker and he showed me respect, professionalism, and compassion. He kept my spirits up, made me do things I should do that no one else could. Examples include bathing, drinking and eating more, and getting out of bed. He was willing to do anything for me and I was going to do everything I could for him. I felt we were a team, he understood me, he did not judge me, and I was just another guy just like him. Everyone is nice, but Tucker stands out. Tucker kept me calm when the doctors came in as he knew what I needed. I was not going to speak up to doctors, but Tucker did, he asked them questions and I could not believe it. When the doctors left, Tucker stayed with me and went over things they discussed. He answered my questions so I could understand them.” 

The patient asked me (this writer), do you know what it’s like to be considered dumb? I was speechless with tears in my eyes...

“I never felt like that with Tucker. I felt like a man who was respected and listened to. Tucker never interrupted me or corrected me, he just let me talk and he listened to all my issues/concerns. It’s tough to be in a place like this. It’s not a happy place but Tucker turned that around. He’s cheerful, compassionate, a true delight to be with, and easy to talk with. He kept me calm when the doctors came in. I just shut down when the doctors came into my room. It’s very intimidating when they are standing over you telling you stuff you don’t understand. Then Tucker would stay with me and explain to me what the doctors said in a way I could understand. He was willing to do anything for me and I felt that every day I had Tucker as my nurse. On days I did not have Tucker I would go for walks around the unit looking for him. I found him once and we talked. That was so nice. I believe if we hung out together we could be friends because he just accepted me for me and always put me at ease. I am not a calm man, and I’m always on edge because of my dumbness. I appreciate Tucker so much. I will never forget him. He made me want to keep going but I’m so scared. I hope to see him someday in the cafeteria. I may not say hi but I will want to. I may cry when I see him. He made me be stronger. He would have done anything for me. He was so eager to please me plus my dog’s name is Tucker and I will tell him who the other Tucker is.”