Navigating grief after having lost my mother to breast cancer had been extremely difficult. I had been struggling immensely for months, and with nowhere else to go, I went to the Sutter Davis Hospital ER in the middle of the night. I lay in one of the rooms in the ER, struggling in pain as I had been coming off of Ativan during that time. I expressed my pain to the doctor, that my body had been struggling. Just a few seconds later, Nurse Navdeep showed up. She not only addressed my physical pain but also took the time to listen to my heartache. She not only took the time to hear out my feelings, but also allowed me to have a moment to break down. She gave me comfort in this moment of vulnerability. She kindly asked if she could give me a hug, and to that I replied, “Yes.”

During that moment, I needed that hug more than anything else. I had seen many therapists, counselors, and medical health professionals up till this point, but she was the only one who offered a hug. I had been alone in Davis for months, and this small gesture of hers brought so much calmness into my chaotic world during that time. Three years later, I still think about her hug and how much of a difference that made for me. She brought so much relief into my life with such a small gesture. I hope that she gets the recognition that she deserves for allowing me to feel human, and not just a patient in the emergency room that night. I am forever thankful for the warmth that hug had given me!