When my doctor and I decided I needed a stem cell collection, I was dreading the procedure. I wasn't looking forward to the needles or the long hours in bed, but I knew it had to be done. I was nervous, yet determined. After meeting my nurse, Cassy, and walking down that long hallway, everything began to shift. From the start, she was calm, patient, and reassuring.

I had an endless stream of questions. I think I even asked some twice between my wife and me, but she answered each one thoroughly. Every response was delivered with the same thoughtful, soothing tone, as if she genuinely understood how important it was for me to feel informed and safe. One of my biggest fears was the needle placement. I'd been bracing myself for pain and struggle, but she got everything in perfectly on the first try. I barely felt a pinch. It was one of the easiest experiences I've ever had with needles.

As soon as the procedure began, she seemed to know exactly what I needed before I could even say it. Whether it was adjusting my blanket, distracting me with a story, or simply checking in with a smile, Cassy was there with warmth, humor, and genuine compassion. At one point, we had been chatting when her focus suddenly shifted to the machine. I asked if something was wrong, and she calmly said, The pumps changed speed. She walked over to the equipment just moments before an alarm sounded. It felt like witnessing a magic trick. I had expected the harvest to drag on, but the time simply vanished. Cassy filled those hours with gentle humor and light-hearted anecdotes that kept my wife and me grounded.

By the end, we were laughing at ever having been worried. For having to sit with needles in my arms for hours, this was one of the most peaceful hospital experiences I've ever had. I couldn't have asked for a better nurse. Cassy's skill, compassion, and calm energy turned a daunting day into something I'll always remember with deep gratitude.