My 71-year-old mother suddenly felt ill; her sugar levels had dropped, so we thought that she was potentially having a stroke. We called 911 and were told by the ambulance crew that my mother was being taken to McNeal Hospital, which is 15 minutes away from my Mother's house. My family was concerned and shocked by my Mother's sudden illness. However, our biggest concern was that my Mother was being taken to McNeal Hospital, a smaller hospital that we last visited 20 years prior with my father. We knew Mom would be taken care of, but my family was hesitant.

My family did not expect that my Mother would be helped and cared for by friendly and caring staff, as we stayed with her to help her translate and make her feel at ease. My mom does not speak English at all, so once she was transferred to the non-emergency patient floor, we were not allowed to go along with her due to the visitor's time frame, which made my family nervous again. We communicated with my Mother by cellphone, and she told us that she was very lucky to have Refugio Avitia as her nurse. My mom said to us that she was going to be just fine because Refugio was very attentive, patient, and always there to accommodate her with anything and everything that she needed while being alone in her hospital room, which helped our family sleep at night. My family met Refugio the next day, and we were very pleased and relieved that my Mother had a nurse who was caring, hands-on, helped her translate, educated her, and knowledgeable, but most importantly, gained my Mother's trust that gave my mother and my family a great sense of peace and relieved that Refugio will take care of my Mother as if he was taking care of his own Mother!

McNeal is very lucky and should be very proud to have Refugio Avitia work at your hospital. My family was nervous about sending my Mother to McNeal Hospital in Berwyn, but after being helped by great staff, with nurses like Refugio. We left the hospital with our Mother, who recovered from what looked like a severe food poisoning illness, leaving the hospital with a better perspective about McNeal Hospital and greater respect for their staff, who gave all their best, like Refugio Avitia. My Mother's last words to Refugio were, "If I get sick again, I want you to be my nurse again." Refugio responded, "No, you will not see me soon because you will be in great health for the years to come!" Thank you, Refugio, for going far and beyond helping my Mother and my family!