I was admitted to St. Francis Hospital for an acquired trigger finger of both middle fingers. X was going to perform the release on both fingers. It was a relatively minor procedure, but from my admittance to the hospital until I was released, I was treated beautifully, like the only patient at St. Francis.

It all began with David. I’m sure that David would just say he was doing his job. However, for me, who tries to avoid medical situations like the plague (no pun intended), David was a godsend. I was terrified and extremely nervous because I didn’t know what exactly was happening. All these machines, tubes, and needles were staring at me. David seemed to sense my tension because he immediately put me at ease by telling me his birthday was the same as mine and just began talking to me about the weather (it was snowing) and my family. He was laughing and seemed so calm. He explained every procedure to me before he did it and why he was doing it.

David knew I was very apprehensive about the IV – I usually faint when I get a shot, so I told him to be prepared. He took his time and just kept talking to me, and before I knew it, the IV was in. I barely felt it. During all the charting and prepping he did for me, he just kept me calm and was so completely professional. I am so aware of how hard nurses work to support their patients and doctors, and David was such an amazing example of this. His kindness and empathy were so comforting to me and led to such a great surgical experience at St. Francis. I never felt rushed or dismissed, just cared for and respected.

I am new to the Greenville area, and as I mentioned, I hardly ever have the need to see a doctor other than for routine visits. However, after this experience, I will never worry about having to face surgery if needed, if it can be done at St. Francis. Hopefully, I would get a chance to see David again and personally thank him. It may have been just “another day at the office” for him, but he really made a difference to me.