Alison was taking care of one of our Cystic Fibrosis patients, C, since he was admitted to our unit. C lost his brother (the only sibling) to CF in the past year and therefore he presented himself as a very sad and quiet patient. However that changed when Alison became his nurse. She was able to cheer him up just by walking into his room in the morning. Her big smile, funny joke to start the day, encouragement to deal with emotional stress and immediate attention to all of C`s needs made him feel like he was her only patient.

Alison always took time to sit down and talk to him about things that related best to C - and that is dealing with his life long disease. Moreover, she also took the time to talk about fun stuff, like activities that made C smile when he was able to enjoy life outside of the hospital. She showed him she always had time for him, and no task is ever too big to be carried out later rather than "now". C went from being quiet and sad to being cheerful and happy.

He anticipated when Alison’s shifts were starting and he always wanted to make sure she would be his nurse. We made sure she was his nurse whenever she could; however on those days when she couldn’t - she found the time to go and visit with C - not once, but multiple times in her shift.

She made him feel cared for, she made him feel important, and she made his hospital stay a happy on. As C has mentioned, "I don’t mind staying here as long as Alison is my nurse". She met C’s mom, and even she was impressed with Alison’s abilities to bond so well with her son. She complimented her not only to the clinical manager but also to the patient relations department. C`s mother felt at ease seeing her son finding a friend in a nurse that extended her big heart not only to her patient, but also to the family.

After C was discharged from our unit - he made an effort to come back to formally say good bye to Alison with the most beautiful flower arrangement that was handed to her in the middle of the nurse’s station. It was very touching to see.