During a recent business trip to Chicago, I found myself in a terrifying and unexpected medical crisis far from home. I was experiencing heavy bleeding and being prepped for a possible blood transfusion, all while in a city where I didn’t know anyone, except for a coworker who was doing their best to support me.

Amidst the chaos, fear, and uncertainty, Travis was the calm in the storm. From the moment he stepped into my room, Travis made me feel safe, seen, and genuinely cared for. He took time to explain everything that was happening to me in clear, compassionate terms. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and calm under pressure, but more than that, he lifted my spirits. In a moment where most people would feel scared or alone, he somehow kept a smile on my face.

Travis treated me with respect and dignity, even as I was losing a frightening amount of blood. He helped me stay clean and comfortable through it all, even changing my socks and bed sheets countless times. Before his shift ended, he made sure I was being transferred safely to the women’s hospital and that the next team would be ready for me.

He never made me feel like just another patient. He asked about my job and why I was in Chicago, and his genuine interest in me as a person made all the difference. Thanks to his extraordinary care and the team who continued supporting me, I’m doing well now. I ultimately needed a second D&C to remove retained tissue from my first miscarriage. It turns out I was just an unlucky patient in terms of the bleeding, but I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been in Travis’s care.

Thank you, Travis, for making the scariest day of my life feel a little less lonely and a lot more hopeful. I will never forget your kindness.