My Husband had bypass surgery and, after CVICU, was transferred for prep to go home. As a nurse, I am aware of the lack of staff at times and the struggle to meet patients' needs. One day after I had been to the cafeteria (seeing a lot of his staff there) I came back to his room to find that he was much in need of the toilet and could not go without assistance and monitor. I told my husband that I didn’t know how long it would take because I had seen several downstairs. I went into the hall to see who I could find, and I ran into Heidi, who was on her way to walk another patient. She stopped and asked what I needed, and when I told her, she said no problem, I will just do him first and come to the toilet and then walk my husband. She didn’t make it feel like an imposition. But rather a joy to help. She was always so reassuring and never made you feel like she was in a rush, although I knew she had lots of patients to care for.

Every day, she would come to walk and see if we had questions. I had been very nervous about the surgery as my husband is 76 years old. She always reassured me with a calming atmosphere and made us feel very special and cared for. I will never forget her kindness and love. It makes me think of a statement that I heard in nursing school, “People don’t care how much you know as long as they know how much you care.” Heidi is truly a blessing to your staff and the people she cares for.