The morning before I met Sal, I had a laparoscopic surgery. I was sent home the same day to recover, not expecting what came next. I went to bed that night in pain but figured that was normal for the first night. I was waking up frequently, and when it was time to take my next round of pain meds, not only did the meds not help my pain but it was getting worse. The nurse call line informed me that I should head to the ER right away. After a few hours there, I was diagnosed with an ileus. I was given IV fluids and IV pain meds to help control my pain, but none of them seemed to touch my pain for long. Every trip to the bathroom resulted in excruciating transfers in and out of bed, otherwise, I lay there sleepless and in pain. There were several holds that day and very few beds open upstairs. 

Approximately 12 hours into my ER stay came in Sal, my third nurse of the day. I could tell that both ERs were busy that day, but he never expressed or displayed that in our interactions. He was upbeat and efficient from the start. He already had read about me, but also listened to what I said about how my pain had been throughout the day and what was and was not working for me. Every time he came into my room, he had the same energy and advocacy as he did at the beginning of his shift. But as time went on, I became more and more physically and mentally beaten down by my circumstances. 

At one point, Sal came in and said, "I'm still working to get you a bed upstairs, but if we can't get you a bed upstairs, I can work to get you a better bed down here."  And sure enough, around midnight, in comes Sal with a new bed. He doesn't know how much this meant to me because I couldn't speak much at that time. The pain, discomfort, and lack of sleep essentially paralyzed my mind, body, and spirit. I spent nearly 24 hours in the ER waiting for a bed. I know it may seem like such a small thing to do or offer, but lying down in the new bed was the first bit of comfort I had felt that day. And if that wasn't good enough, he came barreling in just before his shift ended for the night, letting me know there was a bed upstairs and we were going right away. Still upbeat and efficient to the very end.

Sal, thank you!! You made a lasting impact in those moments and, overall, my hospital stay. You embody the best traits that a nurse can have, which are advocacy and kindness. You thought of me and spoke for me when I really couldn't do it myself. You didn't just come and go to get your checks in, you saw me as a person who needed an advocate, and you went above and beyond. Being nice would have been saying how sorry you felt for me, but being kind was putting something into action to make my circumstances better. And on what was easily one of the worst days of my life, there was you making it just a little better.