I met Mike Marino, RN, under very unexpected circumstances. I was at Emerson Hospital for x-rays that my rheumatologist ordered. Everything was fine until I was trying to scan my parking ticket to leave. I couldn't reach the machine that scans the tickets, so with my right foot on the brake, I opened the car door to extend my reach a bit. I still couldn't manage to scan the ticket and put my left foot out to be able to reach even further. Suddenly, my car started moving forward with the left side of my body braced against the open car door.

I started moving along with the car, with my left foot and leg scraping against the ground. Within seconds, my car crashed into the parking garage, and I felt someone lift me up out of the way of the car by my armpits. Mike Marino and several of his colleagues just happened to be having a meeting outside with a group of contractors. I was told later that Mike "sprinted" across the road, separating the garage from the hospital, when he saw me in trouble.

Once he put me down, he told me he was a nurse and asked me a number of questions to discern my immediate health (Did you hit your head? Can you stand on your leg? Do you know your name and where you are?). He was so, so helpful and kind. Immediately, the hospital brought out a wheelchair, and Mike strongly recommended that I go to the ER. He was incredibly professional and kind, as were all the hospital staff who attended to me.

Thank you for providing patients with the opportunity to thank the nursing staff. Mike was at the right place at the right time to be my guardian angel. I could have easily slipped under the car if he hadn't pulled me out of the way!