Amber was, hands down, the best part of my hospital stay.

I never go to the hospital,  ever. I have not seen a doctor in my adult life. When I am sick, I stay home.

I am originally from Vietnam and have lived in the United States for almost 20 years. I do not have children or close family, and I live in a small apartment with a roommate. I used to be a graphic designer and did work for the Cincinnati Reds for many years. When COVID hit, I lost my job. I now work in a factory in Kentucky and do not have health insurance.

I was brought to the hospital after apparently having a seizure at work, which I do not remember. I fell, split my head open, and ended up in the ICU.

It was a Tuesday morning when she became my nurse. From the very start, she was warm, cheerful, and kind. I told her I would not press the call light because I did not want to be a bother, knowing she had other patients who were much sicker than I was. She did not care about that at all. She consistently peeked her head into my room just to make sure I knew she was nearby if I needed anything.

We talked about my life in Vietnam, my career in graphic design, and my love for Chipotle. She was more than just a nurse working a shift; she was a true caretaker. She cared for my physical needs by cleaning and bandaging the laceration on the back of my head. She cared for my emotional needs by reassuring me that I was in a safe place to talk about the challenges in my life without judgment.

The most meaningful way she cared for me, however, was by caring about my financial situation. The doctors ordered an MRI and an EEG, which I politely declined. She took the time to truly understand why. When I explained that I had no health insurance and was already overwhelmed by the cost of my hospital stay, she showed incredible empathy.

She advocated for me. She spoke with the doctors and nurse practitioners and worked to have my accommodation level adjusted so that I would not be charged ICU-level room rates, even though I needed to remain in the ICU for closer monitoring. I was absolutely amazed. Was this in her job description? No, but it was humanity at its finest.

She cared for me for two days in the ICU. On her day off, I was transferred to another floor. The following day, while sitting in a recliner after lunch, she walked into my room. She was no longer my nurse, but she came just to check on me.

She sat with me for about ten minutes, encouraging me to take care of myself after discharge. Before she left, she handed me a Chipotle gift card and said, "When you finally get out of here, dinner is on me."

I will forever remember my hospital stay because of her!

She is a true asset to your hospital and, in my opinion, more than deserving of this award. Near the holidays, I brought her a box of chocolates and a card to try to express how much she impacted my life, but words still don't feel like enough.

Thank you for recognizing nurses like her, who go far beyond clinical care and remind patients that they matter.