I woke up with a real problem. My heart was jumping out of my chest, and I had difficulty breathing. Having worked in critical care for most of my military career, I knew this was not just a moment of anxiety or a passing palpitation. Something was very wrong. My wife called the paramedics, and shortly after, I found myself at Memorial Hermann being treated for Afib with RVR. To say I was scared and anxious is an understatement. My blood pressure was through the roof, and I was a mess. I was admitted to the IMU and Julia was assigned as my nurse. I had no idea what Julia’s patient load was that day, and I had no idea what else was happening in her world. Whatever was going on, out of all the fantastic staff I encountered at Memorial Hermann, she was the one who managed to calm me down, help me reset, and ultimately helped me to get better so I could get home. I cannot begin to overstate the care and consideration she exhibited for me.

One moment perfectly captures why Julia is not just an Extraordinary Nurse but also an even better human being. I had to stay overnight because my heart was still out of rhythm. The physicians were attempting to manage it with medicine. I had a TEE and Cardioversion scheduled for the following day. Fear and dread set in as the sun went down outside my window. Julia was finishing some work in my room, and I broke down. Here I am, a successful guy, fighting back the tears in a hospital bed in front of a stranger. She could have just finished her work and moved on. I am sure I was not her only patient and no doubt, she had other work to do. She saw I was a mess. She came to my bedside, put her hand on my shoulder, looked me right in the eyes, and said, "G, it's going to be ok. You're going to be ok." It was the first time that something someone said to me in the hospital got through. I believed her. Then she did the strangest thing. She left the room and returned with a small flavored ice cup and a spoon. "A cold treat can help sometimes," she said. I have never tasted such a good cup of flavored ice, and it made my personal darkness not so dark. She helped me for a few minutes to feel normal. As normal as you can hooked up to machines and scared.

The next day she was assigned to me again. She encouraged me about my TEE and promised she would be waiting when I got back. I was so excited to see her when I returned from the Cath Lab back in normal sinus rhythm. My blood pressure was slowly coming down as my anxiety finally dissolved. I wanted to give her the biggest hug possible when I was discharged, but I did not want her to think I was crazy, so I shook her hand and thanked her for taking such fantastic care of me. The science of patient care is a learnable skill set. With enough education, practical application, and mentorship, one can learn how to treat the body. Connecting with people is another thing altogether. That is not so easy. It comes from somewhere else and cannot be found in a book or on a preceptor's checklist. It is a unique and special ingredient that some people have and is unforgettable when you experience it. Julia has that gift, and thus I will never forget her. I cannot say enough about the work Julia did in my case. She saved my life in many ways, and I am forever grateful for that. I hope someone will forward this message to her and recognize her for the exceptional professional she is.