I have always been healthy, but this last month I was hospitalized for four days for a bad case of appendicitis. Sadly, I had to be readmitted due to a complication. As a medical provider myself, I had never seen the healthcare field from the patients' perspective. I was full of anxiety and constantly thinking worst-case scenario.

Once I met Charo, her presence really settled my fears. She introduced herself with a warm smile, and when she would come check in on me, she never rushed through our encounter. She consistently made me feel like I was her only patient and all her attention was on me. She made this environment feel slightly normal by doing things like getting me ice cream and saying, "Why not?" with a sweet smile. It's nice to be reminded to enjoy the little things, especially when you feel like nothing is going your way.