I had total knee replacement surgery a couple of weeks ago at Kaiser San Leandro Hospital. Everything went as well as possible; everyone was kind and caring. I was recovering well after surgery and getting ready to go home. My nurse was busy with another patient, so my husband and I waited. The nurse manager, Vanessa, walked by and noticed that we spoke Vietnamese. She greeted us and pulled a chair next to us. Through our conversations, we shared our stories of coming to America after the Vietnam War. It was so comforting talking to Vanessa. I know she must be busy in her role, but she took the time to speak to us and really made us feel special. It's not only about being professional; it's about building a connection with the patient and the family. She asked us if there was anything we needed. We told her we were getting ready to go home, but we understood our nurse was busy with another patient. Vanessa didn’t want us to wait, because we were eager to go home. She then reviewed our discharge instructions, medications, and recovery education. She also coordinated with PT to get us our home device. She took the time to explain 20 pages of instructions and never made us feel rushed. Vanessa went above and beyond in building the nurse-patient relationship. Her compassion and willingness to go the extra mile made us feel cared for. Her compassion and kindness felt genuine, which is truly the power of empathy and human connection in healthcare.