I was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of renal failure due to dehydration, nausea, and not being able to eat or drink anything.

Abby was one of my two favorite nurses during my stay. While she provided excellent medical care, she also provided much-needed emotional care.
It was a bad time for me to be in the hospital. I had just moved myself and my cat into a hotel for two weeks. I was not only concerned about my medical situation but also about my cat, who would be alone in a strange place.

When I shared with her how upset I had been upon hearing I was being admitted, she helped me to see the brighter side of it. From the first day, she made me feel valued and important.

I can remember one day, while being transported back to my room after a procedure, I heard her saying, “Welcome back, we missed you.” It made me feel good.

On my third day in the hospital, I had an emotional breakdown. I desperately wanted to be discharged that day. I also felt that the doctor from my PCP office, doing rounds, was not answering my questions or giving me any information. I could not stop the tears. Abby was there for me; she let me cry. She listened; she gave me words of encouragement. And she tried to find what information she could medically for me.

She checked on me throughout the day. Because of her concern, which I knew was genuine, I was able to finally calm down.

I will always be grateful that she was my nurse. The nursing field needs more people like Abby. She has the compassion, caring, and medical skills that impact lives. She impacted mine!