My husband has been in the hospital. All the nurses have been amazing, and Sarah Pettine really made this visit less stressful. She knew her job and went above and beyond the call of duty. Sarah did things that no other nurse did, like cleaning his head drain and making the family comfortable when they called or visited. Her empathy for my husband’s condition created a phenomenal connection. She listened to his concerns about the potential side effects of his prescribed medicine. She spent her break researching information related to his condition and printed it to help educate him and the family so that he could continue improving his recovery. Even if there was any reason to call for assistance, she had the most patience and compassion and did not get upset, respectfully. Before meeting her in person, my husband called me while he was admitted and explained that his nurse was incredible and that she was the best one he had all week. The memory that this situation, traumatic as it may have been for us, Sarah left us with a more positive lasting memory. The best part of his day was walking around the unit with her. She is truly special, and it was a pleasure having her. I believe she was the reason for my husband’s momentum for an expeditious recovery.

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My father had a stroke on my birthday. The day I was supposed to celebrate life with the people closest to me, I received the worst news of my life. My father had almost lost his life. Since that day, I haven’t been able to sleep, eat, or even smile. My father has always been my Superman hero and role model, so to see him in this condition, not being able to do things as he normally would, has impacted me profoundly because he never gets sick. He’s always been strong and completely healthy. The first day I was able to come to see him in the hospital, I walked in and saw a big smile on his face. His nurse, Sarah, made him laugh. Although I was happy to see him, I could not contain my composure and immediately began to cry. Sarah didn’t hesitate; she ran to give me a tissue and a seat and asked if I wanted anything to drink or snack on. I told her I could not eat anything, but she insisted and offered me ice cream. I usually would have declined, but her empathy for me and my dad really made me feel much better, so reluctantly, I agreed, but only if they had vanilla, which they did. During my visit, I watched Sarah attentively care for my dad’s needs and wants, and then, together, we went for a walk around the unit. He was so happy to be getting back to himself that he did four laps around the entire unit. The next day, I came back to see my father. His vital signs had improved, and he was looking forward to another walk. When Sarah came into the room, she remembered who I was and that I loved the vanilla ice cream she had given me the other day. So, she offered me another, and I did not hesitate this time. Sarah is truly special and one of a kind.