My mother was scheduled for abdominal surgery and was very anxious about it going in, given past health issues and experience with post-surgical infections. My father and I accompanied her, and bright and early we were all in the Day Surgery wing, and introduced to Sue.

Sue. Was. Amazing.

She was our pre-op and post-op nurse, and combined thorough patient care and medical knowledge with a stellar personality and warmth that put us all at ease. She was incredibly attentive, and despite how busy a surgery wing obviously can get, she made us feel genuinely cared for, and like my mom was a priority. She did this through acts that ranged from getting my tiny mother a johnnie from pediatrics that would actually fit her, to gently letting her know exactly what to expect with her IVs as they went in, to making sure she had juice and graham crackers and a heated up blanket afterwards, to giving us a thorough and well-explained rundown of what to expect while healing. She did this all while actually getting my mom to smile and laugh. Her balance of professionalism and personality soothed my own anxiety, seeing that my mom was in excellent and compassionate hands. 

A day when a loved one is in surgery can be emotionally harrowing, but Sue was an absolute bright spot on that day, and emblematic of how a great nurse can make a difference for a whole family.