Both these nurses were extraordinary in their fields, they cared for ME personally!! I liked the way they developed a relationship with ME, who I am, my pain sources, my struggles besides my obvious wounds, and my hopes and needs for MY care. They had compassion for ME, they looked me in the eye, and LISTENED to ME not to be distracted by things going on around them, they not only gave ME the best care I could have asked for but shared in my setbacks, cheered me in MY advances, documented things very well so they knew exactly where I was in my recuperation process but also where I should at the time of their care visit, IF I wasn’t progressing at a good rate, they wanted to hear my struggles and things that might have went well with my instructions or medicines. When something went well they encouraged ME to apply it to the things that might not have gone well.

They were skilled at their craft of care and nursing, they checked the doctor's charts and instructions, offered their experiences with wound care, and offered light-hearted stories and past experiences that made me laugh or made me think about taking better care of myself. I felt good, laughed, even happy, and generally gave me a "YOU got this feeling" in a very, very difficult time of my life, they knew how to wrap open wounds very well, and with such loving care.

Now truth be told, I am a 64-year-old man set in my ways and not the best patient, now facing this amputation, I didn’t realize the mental health part of my getting better, is now very much a part of my life! I was impatient, struggling with the what ifs in my own mind all the possibilities BUT these two gals went up and beyond any other individuals. I think, looking back on this dark part of my life, the mental part of the healing was the most difficult part of it, the depression, anxiety, impatience, non-tolerance especially with the doctors because they have no time for you beyond the scope of their work? It makes you mad, BUT in comes two of these (angels) excuse the term BUT they honestly were the best part of my healing, even beside my family which we are all very close but at times just didn’t seem to understand my struggles, especially the ones they couldn’t physically see. These two gals COULD and DID understand ME, they drew from their experiences and their expertise I guess? But they added a human, caring, loving touch to the point I’m actually taking the time (albeit a little untimely) to write to you, I always take the time now to sing their praises and thankfulness I met and had them in my care process.

Tell them I said thanks from the bottom of my heart because without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m doing very well today, my wounds are healed, my mind is at rest and I would, and do include these gals in every conversation I have about my care at LGH. I’m not good at expressing my feelings about this kind of stuff but I felt I had to pass this on to someone who hopefully cares enough to do that for me. The biggest thing! When they started something they followed through and finished it up with grace, caring, and class up and beyond anything I would have expected. I will always remember these two gals as a big part of my life.