My wife was relocated to another floor for 48 hours of antibiotics and monitoring of an infection she developed during a heartbreaking loss. Lauren was an absolute Godsend and a blessing from the very second she introduced herself at the start of their shift.

We were both exhausted and not in the greatest of headspaces, and Lauren came into the room and was so kind, empathetic, respectful, and just sweet to both of us. She told us that she had heard some of what we had experienced, apologized to us for what we had to deal with, and offered her sincere condolences for our loss. When I say that, I mean she truly cared, not the normal empty "I'm sorry for your loss." She truly cared and went above and beyond.

She came in after she finished their rounds and asked us for our Starbucks orders, and said, "It's not an option, I am getting this for you," because we said, "You don't have to do that." She went and got my wife her favorite drink from there, and a Coke for me (not a coffee person), and returned with a fruit bowl for my wife and a gift bag that also had a beautiful card inside, which she and her teammate both wrote personal encouraging messages in.

Lauren was just what we needed during this heartbreaking time, and she was the first to make us smile and take our minds off stuff a little bit. She treated us like we had all been best friends all our lives, yet we had just met her, and in one of the darkest times possible. She now has us as friends for life.

I have never experienced such exceptional care and kindness. I would like to say that she should be the standard of care for all medical personnel, but that would be unrealistic, because you can't train or teach someone to be what Lauren and her teammate were for us. They are both truly exceptional people, and they deserve the recognition for actually making a difference and an impact, going above and beyond, loving and caring for people while also being skilled medical professionals.

I am so thankful for the care that my wife and I received.