I walked into ICU for the first time to visit my son, who had just been transferred there from a different floor. It was the first day that I think we realized how bad his condition really was, and I was trying to be calm, but inside, I was a wreck. Blake pulled me aside before I got into the room, sat me down, and introduced himself. He said that it was going to be hard to see, but that my son was in really great hands.

Blake assured me that he and the rest of the ICU staff were there to make sure our son got everything he needed. Blake walked me in to see my son. That short interaction set the tone for the full 29 days the patient was at Auburn Medical Center.

I can’t say enough good things about Blake. He kept his promise and took excellent care of my son. He kept us informed every step of the way of what and why he was doing things. Not once did he look frustrated with my plethora of questions or requests. And, if he didn’t have an answer, he made sure to find one and follow up with us.

When my son regained consciousness, the kindness from Blake did not waver. Blake made him feel welcome, and he knew that Blake was an advocate for him.

While he was gentle and patient, he also challenged my son. He challenged him to sit up, move to a chair, stand, talk, and everything else we take for granted when we are healthy. When he was finally able to move out of ICU, it was an exciting day for all of us, but also sad because we wouldn’t have Blake in our daily routine anymore. He made more of an impression on us as what a nurse should be than any other interaction we’ve ever had, and I’ve had some excellent nursing care. I hope you let him know what an impact he’s had on our family.