There are these exceptional individuals who go the extra mile, who think outside the box, who have that extra something special about them. That's David!

My first encounter with him was, of course, not so memorable for me, as I was in tremendous pain from post-surgery and in the middle of being transported to his unit. Not only was I in immense pain, but extremely nauseous. I was struggling. David immediately introduced himself by putting a cold compress on the back of my neck and proceeded to have me sniff some alcohol swabs. Within seconds, I was able to recuperate and settle down.

Throughout his shift that night and every shift he was on duty, he spent the most time with me, making sure I was ok. He was more like a patient advocate at times when I really needed a true friend, as we lived in Staten Island and didn't have much support nearby.

David ensured that everything I needed was provided, and then some, from 2 am P&J sandwiches to getting the provider’s attention when needed. It's actually hard to express in words what someone does or means to someone; there are just so many intangibles, but without those, you're just another paycheck, not David. His attitude and demeanor are inviting, comforting, and much needed in an environment such as the one I was in.

He's a very special individual and to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for his outstanding care and friendship!