I was admitted to Ellison 14 and Angie was my nurse. Over the course of nine days, every time I encountered Angie she went above and beyond to help me. When I arrived the hematoma on my leg had burst, soaking my bandages. I was freaking out. I was so embarrassed and disgusted with the wound and the whole situation. Angie helped change the dressing. She spoke calmly and assured me it was no big deal and that the wound wasn't gross or infected. Her words, tone, and calming demeanor alleviated all my embarrassment and anxiety. Her expert nursing skills kept the wound from becoming infected. The next day was my first ever surgery. I didn't want to go. Angie took the time to calm me, educate me, and explained everything that was going to happen. Eliminating all my fears; making my first surgery ever manageable. 

After surgery, I was encouraged to walk laps around the unit. While in a hallway meeting with her superiors, Angie, without breaking her eye contact or concentration, intuitively and effortlessly pressed the door open button, so I wouldn't have to. The start time for my next surgery changed from 7:45 am to 2:45 pm. I freaked out. What was I supposed to do for the next 7 hours?  Angie advocated for me to visit the chapel downstairs. Again, before surgery, Angie alleviated all my fears and concerns about surgery. Taking the time to talk with me, she made sure I was ready. 

After surgery, Angie was ready with my phone, headphones, ginger ale, and pain medicine. She was always so intuitive and organized. I was discharged and told I would have to come back in a couple of weeks for a skin graft surgery. Since the wound had healed so well, I didn't need to be admitted again.  On the morning of my surgery, I was dropped off. All my old fears and anxieties came back to haunt me. Instead of checking in, I ran for the exit on Blossom St. I saw the shuttle bus dropping off the nurses for work. I thought of my previous experiences and of Angie and what she taught me. 

She taught me the importance of following the doctor's orders, how to manage my anxieties, and how to advocate for myself. After a quick visit to the chapel, I checked in for surgery 10 minutes early. Surgery was a success. The wound has healed and next week I go back to work. It was Angie’s intuitive, caring demeanor and inherent patience that made my stay at Ellison 14 pleasant. She turned the worst experience of my life into a manageable learning experience.  Every time I met Angie, she made my stay at the hospital easier, my life better, and ultimately, my health improved because of her. Angie is skilled, smart, intuitive, patient, and caring. Mass General Brigham and the patients are lucky to have her. And I was lucky to have met her.