Catherine, I was in your care recovering from gastric surgery. As I looked at my three IVs and NG tube running to four pumps pulling on ten bags and bottles, I realized maybe I'm a little more vulnerable and dependent than I thought. A lot of skilled people were working hard to get me out of this.  All of the nurses who looked after me following my abdominal surgery showed the skill and competence under pressure that your profession demands, but you stood out.

When all of my IVs were burning at once, you researched the problem and found the answers. When my sixteenth IV site was failing, and you had to find a vein for a seventeenth where none existed, you had the presence of mind to contact the cardiologist to expedite conversion to pill form prior to the extraction of my NG tube, so you could start pulling IVs instead of putting in new ones. Including a prescribed PICC line for TPN.

I'll never forget how quick your thinking and exceptional competency finally ended my nightmare struggle with daily IV failures and reversed what looked to me like a downward spiral. You used your exceptional talent, empathy, and initiative to turn around a degrading situation. That is what happened to me while under your care, and it's important that both you and your supervisor know how grateful I am. Thanks again for all that you did!