Maria Almonds, the pride you take in your work is truly inspiring. I went to the Washington, D.C., VA hospital for an acute case of Spinal Stenosis and Lumbar Radiculopathy. I was treated rapidly and placed in the care of Nurse Maria Almonds. Maria went above and beyond the call of duty, taking care of me throughout the day despite being extremely busy. She paid attention to detail, kept me informed of treatment progression, and ensured that I remained calm and comfortable throughout my ordeal. Mrs. Almonds exemplifies what an outstanding nurse should be: someone whose primary concern is the care of her patients. She was caring and professional, always keeping my condition in mind. Her exemplary professional conduct should be lauded, and I want to ensure that she gets the recognition she deserves. Usually, the tempo in the emergency room is fast-paced, and the staff and/or patients have only time to attend to one situation at a time. Mrs. Almonds went against all odds to ensure her many patients were cared for. That level of care and professionalism is extremely rare these days, but Mrs. Almonds redefined what professional patient care should be. Please acknowledge this outstanding individual and give her the proper recognition she deserves. All her patients are indebted to her for her great demeanor and for going beyond normal expectations. She is an asset to the Emergency Room staff at the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center.