Today is my seventh day on the ICU unit following vascular surgery. I'm thinking that I will be able to go home today. I've made significant changes to my diet and exercise, mostly walking, to help manage my symptoms.

In the unit, the breakfast was what I considered to be all the unhealthy foods that I had stricken from my diet years ago. Sausage, ultra-processed cereals, powdered coffee creamer, sugary yogurt, and margarine. At the first meal, I said I worked hard to remove all these foods from my diet and I can't eat any of this.

Leo understood and went above and beyond to call the kitchen and have them send up a variety of fresh fruit. He checked my chart to ensure that I could eat these foods. He provided me with a phone number on a card stating I could communicate directly with the kitchen about my dietary description.

I have vision loss, and I had a cornea transplant 4 weeks ago. Leo was very considerate of my photosensitivity and gave me time to put on my sun goggles before turning on the lights. He understood that sudden changes of light were disorienting and painful to me and respected my disability.

One of the hardest things about having vision loss is relating my experience to others. I didn't need to overexplain my limitations. He noted my situation and smoothly adjusted his performance to accommodate me. It probably doesn't sound like much to most people, but having someone who acknowledges and adjusts their style of care is priceless.

Leo jumped to help me without me having to ask. A lot of times, I have to say I'm not able to do this. I can't do this, I can't see this. Can you help me? I didn't have to say I couldn’t. Leo was intuitive and empathetic to my needs. These skills were priceless to me.

Leo is an awesome nurse and a great guy. It's obvious how much he cares about his job and how much he cares about his patients.