Fifty years ago this month, a young nurse started her career at Grace Hospital in ICU. She then followed to Hutchinson Hospital, Promise, and now HRMC. You can only imagine the changes in healthcare she has seen in 50 years. Early patients in her career stayed for almost a week for a simple appy or cholecystectomy and were given numerous shots for pain control. Now, she sends that same patient home in a few hours after a pain pill. She can still tell stories of some of her favorite patients or memorable patients: the frequent MS patient, “Biker Bob,” or that cute little elderly lady who called to her “nurse” and motioned to her by using her index finger. Returning patients remember Gaynelle. They have their own stories of what a caring, compassionate, calming nurse she is, especially her IV sticks that didn’t hurt. Working beside her for several years, I saw her give these and many others excellent care with a big smile. Her knowledge is amazing. You know you can go to her with questions, and she probably has an answer for you. She not only gives top-rate care to her patients, but she cares about her co-workers. She is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and jump in. She may look frazzled at the end of a shift, but her patients come first. I’m proud to say Gaynelle Friesen is one of my co-workers and is an asset to HRMC.