I went to the hospital with numbness in my legs that ran from my lower back to my toes. I needed to get a spinal tap. I was feeling alone and scared, and Rachel held my hand, played with my hair to distract me from what was going on, talked to me the entire procedure, and was with me the entire time. I had never felt such compassion from someone whom I had just met.

I was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I ran into her again 15 months later, and I was not doing okay physically or mentally, and she made me feel like it was okay not to be okay. My MS diagnosis hit me pretty hard as a young female in her early 20s. I felt like my life was over. Rachel told me everything would be okay and went above and beyond for me, not once but twice.

It's been a little over 4 years, and I tell everyone about that nurse who made me feel safe and cared for when my entire world was falling apart that day. Rachel restored my faith in humanity. To her, she was being a nice human; to me, she made me feel seen, loved, and cared for.

 Rachel, thank you for being the best nurse I have ever met.