One can only hope that, in the face of trepidation and anxiety attending a cardiac procedure, the first face you see is Nurse Karen’s. Her smiling, matter-of-fact demeanor and thorough, professional explanations helped allay my fears and assured me that my trust could be placed in her capable hands. I have so often felt that the hands of a nurse symbolize the marriage of art and science: The deft, masterly precision combined with the gentle touch that precision combined with the gentle touch that comprehends at a spiritual level. The human condition: Its complexities, nuances, and permutations. When Karen shared her stories of mothering and deep abiding love for her daughters and her own mother, I appreciated so greatly her subtle yet wise, womanly wisdom. Sharing anecdotal stories with Karen, who shares my Eastern European background, created an atmosphere of camaraderie while never denying the gravity and seriousness of the procedures. Having been very ill during my childhood and adolescence, I have a conditioned antipathy to hospitals, testing, etc., but I have come away with a profound gratitude for the kindness and care I received at Newton Hospital.