I was recently diagnosed with heart failure. During this very scary time, Tony not only went into detail on how to live life with heart failure but educated me on everything! He took the time to listen to me and didn’t treat me like a number. He treated me like a person and showed me compassion and empathy; he went above and beyond! I have been dismissed so many times on so many different levels but not by Tony. I felt like, for once, I was not being passed along to the next health member. 

Tony should be recognized for the outstanding work he is doing and for how life-changing his time with me was. He has impacted my life for the better. I wish there were more healthcare providers like him. I can’t express enough how much Tony’s care has meant to me and how much I am chronically ill and how disabled from all of my medical conditions; many of which are autoimmune. My quality of life is greatly impacted by my body fighting against itself. I am 32 years old and know that my life expectancy is not that of most people. Because many of my ailments are hidden conditions/disabilities, healthcare professionals dismiss my symptoms. Not only did Tony not dismiss me, but he listened and took the time to understand, or at least tried to.

I am so grateful for Tony coming into my hospital room today. As I am writing this, I have tears in my eyes, and I am hopeful for the future, where I really have not had that feeling of hope in the past. Tony really deserves an award. I wish I had the right words to say, but my life has been changed for the better because of the compassion Tony showed me today.