I am an 83-year-old who has had 33 surgeries and three different kinds of cancers. I am well versed on different nurses' abilities and compassion levels. Kristina came into my life, as I was in the Day Surgery waiting room, in anticipation of having surgery. At my age, you can sort out very quickly who actually has your interest at heart rather than it just being a job. Like the old song goes, "she had me from hello," it did not take me long to realize what a kind, caring and sweet human being was in my midst.
The surgery that was scheduled ahead of me was running late, so I was in Kristina's area longer than usual. The more we talked we got to know each other's history a bit and found out we actually had a lot in common. When someone shows interest in your history, you can bet they are from a loving and caring cloth. As I was preparing for surgery, she kept my dignity and acknowledged that I had a urostomy. She went above and beyond helping me keep it empty prior to surgery.
When Kristina put my IV in, it was so gentle and we just kept chatting, she was done before I ever realized the needle was in my arm and she was already taping it. By now, you probably realized how impressed I was. Her gentle mannerisms and contagious laugh made the time pass very quickly. As I was being wheeled down the hall to the operating room I felt so blessed by the experience. If I had to describe Kristina, I would say she has as young spirit with an old soul heart. She is my number one all-time favorite nurse.