My mom was scheduled for a routine hysterectomy. I knew my mother was a little nervous going into the surgery, and being a nurse myself, I reassured her that everything would be OK, that surgeries are performed all the time.

My brother and I lost our father fairly young, so when my step dad called to say there were issues I went into shock. We went to the hospital to be with my stepdad while he was waiting for my mom to be recovered from surgery. We were told they were having trouble recovering her. On our way to the hospital, my stepfather called to say they were taking her back into an emergency surgery, and that he had spoken with the head of the department who came in from home to perform emergency surgery due to internal bleeding. They were able to find the problem area and stabilize her. She was then admitted to the ICU in the morning hours. She was transferred within the ICU the next day and then transferred to another floor with the intention to be discharged on Friday. When Friday came, there was again the concern of internal bleeding, another CT of the abdomen, clotting factor, and blood administration. As well as she returned to the same room in ICU that she had the night before. When I was on my way to the hospital on Friday afternoon, I was upset because we had anticipated discharge this day and now we're switching gears and she was being taken back to ICU, and again concerned about internal bleeding.

The doctor had impeccable timing and happened to be there to answer all of my questions, and assuage my fears. I stayed with my mom throughout her daylight and into the evening shift change and got to meet her oncoming nurse, Leslie Vincent. Leslie came in on Friday evening and really made me and my mother feel at ease. I was so impressed when Leslie came in and asked my mom if anyone had cleaned her Foley? I of course know the importance of Foley care, but when it applies to your loved one, and it directly affects the type of surgery they had, I cannot tell you how that one simple act made me feel so good and at ease. With that act Leslie let me know that she had my mother's own interest and safety at the forefront of her mind, again, especially because of the type of surgery she had, and because of the ups and downs of the overall hospital experience. I felt relief. I knew I was leaving my mother in the hands of a competent, caring, thorough nurse. After a few days of ups and downs, it was so reassuring leaving my mom that night, and knowing Ms. Leslie Vincent was taking care of her. Truly reassuring. My mom describes Leslie as a genie in a bottle.

The following are the thoughts my mom wanted to write about Leslie: "I had a nurse for the night shift named Leslie. I was admitted due to complications from a hysterectomy. I was sure this time I was going home the next day. I felt very safe that night with Leslie being my nurse. I have been on some ups and downs during my hospital stay, but finally felt this was my last night there. I can't really explain why I felt so safe, maybe because I noticed her calming voice, her nice manners, always asking was there anything I needed?

To sum it up, I felt like I was given a genie in a bottle, her just standing there like a genie saying your wish is my command, and there wasn't anything she wouldn't do. She knew the previous night I hadn't slept much and made sure I wasn't disturbed. All in all, every nurse I had was very caring, but Leslie made it different."

When they explain the risk to you regarding surgery, there is a reason for that. Unfortunately for my mother, she was the unlucky patient who had to experience post-operative bleeding. I believe all of her surgeons, and the whole team had my mother's best interests at heart. They truly cared and I believed they were all concerned with these unfortunate circumstances that arouse for my mom I know personally, as a nurse educator, I will never use the phrase routine surgery again. Please let Ms. Leslie Vincent RN know that her extraordinary work and care have not gone unnoticed.