I entered Bedford Memorial Hospital for a routine hernia operation. During the operation, it became a little bit more critical because of the size of the hernia, and I had to spend the night in the ICU because my heart rate had spiked and my blood pressure had lowered, so they kept me overnight to monitor. During the graveyard shift, a young lady came in by the name of Emily; she was a nurse, and she stood out to me so profoundly that night because of her simple and loving care of an older man.

I’m 67, and I’ve been in and out of hospitals a lot in my life. Many it seems, I’ve had major surgeries: burn care units, lost digits on my right hand, other surgeries, and I’ve been cared for by many nurses, but this nurse stood out to me because of her tenderness, and when she would come in the room, it seemed like she went beyond what she was called to do and became to me like a mom or a sister.

She would do whatever she was supposed to do on her rounds, and then she would stop, take hold of my hand, and we would talk for just a very few moments about her getting married and being happy, and I was telling her that I had been married 47 years, and we just had a tender talk. I have to say I’ve never been treated with such tenderness and care by a nurse who I felt went beyond just being a compassionate nurse. There are some great nurses at Bedford Memorial Hospital, but somehow she stood out to me, and I won’t forget her, and I want to do my best to support her receiving a DAISY Award. Don’t lose this young lady. Emily is a great asset to Bedford Memorial Hospital. I hope somehow I get to come in contact with her again outside of her occupational duties just to tell her how much she meant to me that night. It was only one night, but I won’t forget it.