There are moments in healthcare where clinical skill matters deeply, and then there are moments where compassion, humanity, and emotional support become just as life-changing. Jade LaFave gave me both.

I am a 6th-generation Eau Claire native, and this spring I returned home postpartum with my newborn son, G, while my husband, an active duty Army officer, is deployed. We came home so I could be surrounded by family support during those early newborn weeks and, if we ever needed medical care, have access to the incredible providers at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.

I never imagined that I would be the one needing emergency care. After weeks of being told my symptoms were simply “normal postpartum recovery,” I learned I was actually suffering from severe gallstone attacks and was incredibly sick. I was hospitalized on the Medical Surgical floor just seven weeks after giving birth. I was terrified. It was also the very first time I had ever been separated from my newborn son. Because he was still so young and unvaccinated, I was advised not to bring him to the hospital, and emotionally, that absolutely shattered me.

Then Jade stepped in. From the moment she cared for me, she made me feel safe, seen, and supported in a way I will never forget. She recognized that I was not only a patient recovering physically, but also a brand new mother navigating fear, hormones, separation from my baby, and the absence of my deployed husband.

Jade went above and beyond in countless ways. She helped facilitate pumping and breast milk storage and even found me a dedicated breast milk fridge so I would not lose milk while hospitalized. She checked on me constantly, brought me food options when I was allowed to eat, walked with me through the halls, and helped keep my spirits up during one of the hardest weeks of my life.

Most importantly, she empowered me. I had to undergo anesthesia two days in a row, and Jade made me feel strong, informed, and cared for every step of the way. She shared stories about her daughter, connected with me as a fellow mom, and made me feel human instead of just another hospital patient.

Those three days could have become a traumatic postpartum memory for me. Instead, when I look back on my hospitalization, I think about the extraordinary kindness I experienced.

During my stay, I learned that my discharge date was either Jade’s final or second-to-last shift before transferring to another Mayo Clinic Health System location. Despite that major life transition, she never once appeared distracted or checked out. In fact, she showed up for her patients with incredible warmth, attentiveness, professionalism, and heart.

Jade is the kind of nurse who changes how people feel about healthcare. She made one of the scariest moments of my life feel manageable. She cared for me not only medically, but emotionally and personally. Nurses like Jade are the reason patients heal better, feel safer, and remember their care with gratitude long after discharge.

Thank you, Jade.