My son arrived here by ambulance. He had his first surgery the following morning. My son is 15 years old. He has autism, so it is extremely hard for him to be comfortable around people he doesn't know. Although he was very respectful to all your staff, it was hard for him to smile. He was afraid that the pain would return.
On Friday morning, his appendix ruptured, and he had surgery. For the next few days, he was scared and uncertain. As his dad, I reassured him that everything was going to be alright and he didn't need to worry. But, he was still unsure, and he wasn't his normal self. But, all of that changed when Valeria came to work.
She showed him that she cared. She took the time to acknowledge him and listen to him. She treated him as if they were family. She encouraged him and reached him in a way that I wasn't able to. Valeria's words and actions gave him back his confidence and he was himself again.
My son was no longer afraid, and he was ready to go home without any fear or doubt. She may not have done the physical surgery, but she did a different kind of surgery. Her words and actions allowed my son to be comfortable, confident, and to be himself again. She did something that I wasn't able to do. For that, I am forever grateful, and she is my hero!