I first met Xeamora in early October when I was a patient on her unit (9 West).  It was very evident that nursing wasn't just her job--it was her calling. I immediately liked her because of her sweet demeanor (like most of the staff I've encountered at Union Memorial), but then I decided she may just be my favorite because the first thing she did after introducing herself was ask if I wanted a shower.  It had been a few days, and although the other nurses were super nice and kind, I didn't know a shower was an option!  I thought I just had to "sponge bathe."  She took the time to wrap up my IV port and made sure the water was working properly to warm up for me, and I felt so relieved and refreshed as I let that water just wash over me.  THEN--When I came out of the shower, she was finishing up putting clean linens on the bed.  As Xeamora fluffed up a pillow for me before I entered the freshly made bed, I almost cried.  It was such a small gesture, but it made me feel so comforted in the midst of the health problems I was experiencing!  During my stay, Xeamora was my nurse twice.  She was the only nurse who would explain the blood tests and write on the white board what my INR level was and such.  She always made sure I knew what was going on and wrote down important things so that I could relay the info to my loved ones.  I'm not even sure if I ever called Xeamora for anything.  It's like she just anticipated my needs and was always there.  She would even pop her head in to make sure I ordered my meals ahead of time.  Ha!  That hospital stay showed me that Xeamora is an Extraordinary Nurse and human being.  But THEN...
 
When I returned to the hospital at the end of the month, I realized I needed to find an adjective that was grander than "extraordinary."  Let me explain...When I was admitted the second time, I was not on Xeamora's unit.  It was a Saturday and my doctor's phone wasn't working (& obviously didn't know it).  So as my health was declining, my nurse at the time didn't do anything about it because she couldn't get in touch with my doctor to receive orders.  My sister called my room to check on me and I had just enough strength to answer and say something like "Nothing is being done."  My sister remembered Xeamora and how great she was with me a few weeks prior, so she called her wing, praying she was working.  She was!  And she agreed to come check on me during her break.  When Xeamora arrived, she knew something was wrong.  "This isn't the same M I took care of a few weeks ago," I heard her say, and she quickly went into nurse-mama-bear mode.  She stepped right in and advocated for me.  She got the doctor to order me fluids & got me oxygen because my pulse ox was at 88%.  She even wrote down a list of things on the dry erase board & explained "M, when the doctor comes, you don't have to remember a thing except to point him to the board."  And she did all this in about 20 minutes!  Since that day, Xeamora poked her head in twice to check on me and has even called my room to see how I was doing.  She is an angel--such a sweet blessing.  I guess if I had to sum it all up, I would say she's more than extraordinary because I have a feeling that she treats all of her patients as if they're her mother, brother, daughter, etc.  And not only HER patients (I wasn't under her care that day she advocated for me).  She just treats people like they're family.  Any time I'm treated that way, I feel so good.  But when I'm sick, alone, & scared, it makes me feel safe & comforted.  That assurance is priceless.  And I will forever be grateful.