I suffered a burn injury to my right upper thigh and two smaller wounds on the right side of my abdomen. It hurt, I won't lie, and I attempted to care for myself initially (about 2 weeks). I was barely able to debride the wound alone (pain). My nurse friend advised me to send a photo to her, which she showed a doctor. They then convinced me to go to the Augusta Burn Center. My heart dropped as I recalled stories of a severe burn survivor. He promoted energy safety in our nuclear plant. His experience worked well in improving our safety atmosphere but left a bad taste for the burn center procedures. My first experience was a little rough. Removing my rudimentary bandaging was quite painful. Then learning I had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree wounds requiring surgery was, let's say, eye-opening. Fast forward...I learned my donor skin is stapled in place and I'm reacting (my body is) to the staples. I didn't know I had staples, and now they need to come out. Enter nurse Nadria. 

She was exactly what the doctor ordered. She listened to me and understood that despite being 6'4, 330 lb, I was genuinely scared. She removed my dressing quickly but carefully, with little to no pain. The PA, then the doc, then the surgeon examined my "angry wound" (that took a while). Nurse Nadria was tasked with removing all of the staples. She set to work and gave me breaks when the pain and muscle fatigue was too much. We (She) were nearly done but at a particularly painful area that was stubbornly not cooperating at releasing the staples. I felt beyond vulnerable and then the curtain opened, a person stuck their face in and said, "What's taking so long? We need the room. Hurry up!" Nadria responded while continuing to work on me with, "My patient will get the best service we can provide, I will be done when I'm done, please make other arrangements." What Nadria doesn't know is that I was forced as a young teen to view films of the torture and death of POWs in Germany and the experimentation of the human body for medical and general knowledge. One particular person who was surviving the torture longer than others, was looking like he might be allowed to survive but a man entered the room, he looked at the victim and said, "He's taking too long" and he then shot him. I flashed back at that moment in the hospital and several times since. But Nadria's professionalism, care, empathy, and quick response were life-changing. I was truly at the edge of pure panic. Thanks to her, all is well. That is one GREAT nurse.