I hope this story touches your heart just as much as it has mine.

Nicole Stercay recently took care of a patient admitted to the Surgical Trauma ICU for failure to thrive. He had a fairly complicated course and was intubated for some time. Once extubated, Nikki formed a rapport with the patient. He shared with her some of his struggles that had ultimately led up to his admission to the hospital. He shared a very endearing story. He explained that he recently lost his husband to cancer. They had been together for a very long time. When his husband was diagnosed with cancer, he asked the physician to not tell him because he wanted to deliver the horrific news himself in the best way possible. He joyfully explained they really enjoyed chocolate cake. However, they only indulged on certain occasions. He decided to buy his husband a chocolate cake and deliver the tragic news. Even during this horrific time, they were able to laugh and call it “death by chocolate cake”.

Later, during the week, Nikki had him again and it just so happened to be his birthday. Nikki thought it would be a great gesture to honor the patient and the patient’s late husband by bringing him a chocolate cake. Nikki purchased a chocolate cake and had it delivered to him in his room. Nikki truly radiates our hospital's core values. She impacted this patient’s most sacred moment and brought a smile to his face that had been missing for quite some time.