From the early morning of admission into 2 North until Jill's last day with me, I've had nothing but extraordinary care. The morning I was admitted, Jill was my assigned nurse and she welcomed me with a huge smile and warmth that radiated true care, compassion and greatness. Upon arrival, Jill immediately recognized that I was having a difficult time with pain. She was always proactive in making sure I was comfortable and that she was accessible when time for my "next dose". For me, that aspect alone was huge! I know that nurses get busy and have multiple patients to take care of - their time is at a premium. But after experiencing Jill's level of care and her proactive attitude toward my care and comfort, it made me wonder, "if Jill can be so attentive to her patients, as well as in their comfort and care, why can't others be the same?" The only answer I can come up with is this: I truly matter to Jill. When you truly matter to someone, the other person makes your well-being a priority for them! Isn't that the very definition of greatness?

Today is Jill's last shift until after the weekend. I'm torn between feeling happy for her and sad for me. I'm happy because she is able to have time with her family. But, I am selfishly sad because I'm going to miss her exemplary medical care and most importantly, the friendship/kinship we have shared during my stay.

Before passing, Steve Jobs imparted a lot of wise "business advice" to entrepreneurs and employees alike. However, the most valuable, in my opinion, was this, "the only way to do great work is to love what you do." That statement explains why Jill does amazing work; she loves what she does and truly cares about those around her.

If all within the medical community used Jill as their standard for work and patient relationships, the science and art of healing would be transformed and everyone in the medical field could achieve greatness - just like Jill.