Brea Baine
August 2025
Brea
Baine
,
MSN, RN
Float
Carle Foundation Hospital
Urbana
,
IL
United States
After days of feeling invisible and overwhelmed, she made me feel seen, validated, and safe.
I would like to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation for Brea, the charge nurse on duty the night we were transferred to Carle Hospital. Brea was, without a doubt, my saving angel during what had been an incredibly traumatic and exhausting few days. Her presence, compassion, and leadership brought immediate relief in a moment when I was completely overwhelmed. From the moment I arrived, Brea stepped in with confidence, warmth, and grace. She looked me in the eyes and gently said, “Turn your brain off, I’ve got it from here.” And she meant it.
She helped me retrieve my vehicle from the first hospital, placed a clear and protective note on my daughter’s door to ensure her safety, and began addressing both our physical and emotional needs without hesitation. She brought me a coffee and a cold glass of water, made up a bed for me in the room, handed me towels and toiletries so I could finally take a shower, something I hadn’t been able to do in three days. She called ahead and arranged a room for me at the guest house, walked me over there herself, and made sure I was fully settled in. Before her shift ended, she came back to say goodbye and gave me a warm hug that I will never forget. Brea’s kindness, empathy, and attention to detail brought me back from the brink. After days of feeling invisible and overwhelmed, she made me feel seen, validated, and safe. Her actions reminded me that true caregiving is not only about medicine, it’s about humanity.
Her leadership style and the way she welcomed us into the hospital should be the gold standard. It is the kind of compassionate, proactive care that all hospitals should teach when training their staff on how to treat incoming patients and their families, especially those arriving under extreme stress. There is a quote that says, “People may forget what you said, they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Brea made me feel cared for at a time when I desperately needed it. I will forever cherish that moment, and I will always be grateful to her.
She helped me retrieve my vehicle from the first hospital, placed a clear and protective note on my daughter’s door to ensure her safety, and began addressing both our physical and emotional needs without hesitation. She brought me a coffee and a cold glass of water, made up a bed for me in the room, handed me towels and toiletries so I could finally take a shower, something I hadn’t been able to do in three days. She called ahead and arranged a room for me at the guest house, walked me over there herself, and made sure I was fully settled in. Before her shift ended, she came back to say goodbye and gave me a warm hug that I will never forget. Brea’s kindness, empathy, and attention to detail brought me back from the brink. After days of feeling invisible and overwhelmed, she made me feel seen, validated, and safe. Her actions reminded me that true caregiving is not only about medicine, it’s about humanity.
Her leadership style and the way she welcomed us into the hospital should be the gold standard. It is the kind of compassionate, proactive care that all hospitals should teach when training their staff on how to treat incoming patients and their families, especially those arriving under extreme stress. There is a quote that says, “People may forget what you said, they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Brea made me feel cared for at a time when I desperately needed it. I will forever cherish that moment, and I will always be grateful to her.