Erika had an instant connection with my spouse who is a combat medic/veteran. Erika was able to give him directions (based on his condition) in a “command voice” (military chain of command) so he responded better. She acknowledged his pain and treated it aggressively. She made me feel as if I was still part of the healthcare team instead of “just the wife”. Because Erika had such a good rapport with my spouse, I felt comfortable for the first time in leaving him overnight so I could go home and prepare for his transfer to the VA. This allowed me to have a more restful night’s sleep and spend some time on self-care to recharge for the long road to wellness that might ensue at the spinal cord unit at the VA. She saw us not as patient and spouse but as equal partners in a team striving for wellness in mind, body, and spirit and encouraged us both to strive to recover as completely as possible. Thank you for your amazing care to us both.