I came to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack. Late in the evening after being admitted for observation, I began to experience symptoms similar to the ones that brought me here in the first place. I called out to my nurse, Susan and asked for my inhaler (as I was told by the respiratory therapist and the nurse practitioner earlier in the day that one would be ordered for me). I was short of breath and on the verge of panic when Susan told me she didn’t see an inhaler in the bin with my medication nor could she find the order for my inhaler. I looked at her with tears in my eyes and said, “Please help me and hurry, my chest is tight.” Susan got on the phone and I heard her ask someone to bring an inhaler “stat”. She then got on the phone with urgency in her tone and called the doctor on call and the respiratory therapist and insisted that they come to my room immediately. Both of them arrived within 5 minutes. Susan put me on oxygen while we waited and she spoke to me so calmly and didn’t leave my side. She was adamant and persistent and thanks to her I went from having an asthma/panic attack to being able to breathe with ease in a matter of minutes. Susan LISTENED to me, she took me seriously, and she showed true care and concern for me. She saved me when I felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest and for that, I will forever be grateful.

During my stay on 4 Tower, I had a roommate with dementia and she kept taking her IV out and pulling the leads of her heart monitor. Susan also cared for her with tenderness, compassion, and patience. Susan repeatedly had to help her and not once did she lose her temper or raise her voice. She spoke calmly and with a soothing tone showing love to a vulnerable person who was testing even my own patience because I had to endure the disruption while I myself was sick and trying to rest.

Susan is a nurse who clearly loves her job and a woman with a kind spirit and a beautiful soul. She went above and beyond for myself and my roommate and witnessing her action truly restored my faith in humanity.