I am a 51-year-old lady who had to have Open Heart Surgery; I had to have two bypasses, a Cox Maze, and a pacemaker. I was terrified going into the surgery and really worried about the recovery. While all of the nurses in the CVICU are top-notch, Grant stood out to me from the minute he came into my room and introduced himself. He was my nurse several shifts while I was in the CVICU, and each time I realized he was assigned to me, I felt a sense of calm. He is just a genuinely kind person and made me feel like he had gone to school to be a nurse just so that he could take care of me during my stay. He was so compassionate and caring to me and my family, so thorough and knowledgeable with my care; he explained everything to me and was eager to answer any question or address any concern I had, and was my biggest cheerleader when I needed it most (the first few days after the surgery)! Especially when I still had chest tubes in, and the pain was almost unbearable, he assured me with every step I took that the next stroll we took would be easier than the one we were on. I never once had to push the nurse alert because he was always one step ahead of anything I thought I might need. He interacted with my family to make sure they understood my care while I was hospitalized and always asked if there was anything they needed. Each shift, when I saw him walk into my room, I felt almost a calm relief. Every visitor I had commented on what an awesome nurse I had assigned to me. Cookeville Regional Medical Center has a fantastic group of professionals, but in my eyes, Grant Holman raises the bar for everyone there! That hospital is blessed to have him representing what they stand for in our community.

***

Grant was the nurse on duty the second day my husband was in the CVICU. I walked in just as he and another nurse intubated him. He could see both my husband and I were concerned, and my husband was frightened, not knowing where he was and why. He calmed my husband down and was incredibly patient, answering the same questions over & over again until he was calmed down. He also made me feel very welcome & told me to make myself comfortable. He asked me throughout the shift if I had questions. He was also available for me to go to. When my husband was transferred to the medical ICU, he came along with us to assist him on getting settled. He was such a blessing at such a scary time.