Nobody wants to be ill or hospitalized. Navigating the confusing world of medical health can feel overwhelming, almost too baffling for the human mind. That’s the keyword: human. The nursing staff serves as a bridge between science and the human condition.

I was recently admitted to RCH with a condition that until then had only been a word to me. I still do not fully understand what happened, but that brings me back to what it means to be human. Gina saw the human in me and treated me as such, not just another diagnosis or another bed. She took the time to explain, as well as anyone could, what was going on both with me and to me.

Her compassion didn’t stop there. At the time, a dear friend of mine was also in the hospital on another floor, receiving hospice care and living out his final days. Despite what I assumed were countless rules against it, I asked Gina if I could see him one last time. She said “maybe” and went to check. Somehow, she got permission.

That Friday evening, Gina placed me in a wheelchair and personally escorted me to see my friend. We shared a few final smiles. About five hours later, my friend passed on to his next life. The memory of my illness will fade, but I will always carry the memory of that last moment with my friend of 35 years. Gina gave me that. Even though she works at a relentless pace in an incredibly demanding job, she took time for something that wasn’t medically necessary but was deeply human. When we returned to my unit, I watched her hustle to catch up on her work. I believe she even stayed past her shift to make sure nothing was left undone because she had taken the time to put my humanity first.

All the nurses here were kind and attentive, but Gina’s actions set her apart in my eyes. All of the nurses here have been so kind and attentive, but her action has set her beyond the rest in my opinion.

Thank you, RCH, for having such an extraordinary staff.