To truly explain the impact Candice had on my care, I need to go back almost 10 months. Some time around New Year’s 2025, I had a kidney stone that became stuck, leading to sepsis and the need for stent surgery. That hospitalization was deeply traumatizing. I experienced uncontrollable pain, and on my first night post-surgery, I felt neglected by a nurse.

Because of that, every provider who followed struggled to manage my pain effectively. The experience left me fearful of ever needing surgery again. Fast forward to the fall, here I am, back at Hillcrest and facing another stent surgery — terrified of repeating the past.

Candice, along with Lisa, the PCNA, played a pivotal role in changing my experience. Thanks to them, tonight I am not screaming in pain, I feel listened to, and I am not retraumatized. Before surgery, Candice sat with me, heard my concerns, and promised she would make sure I was taken care of properly. When I returned from surgery, she kept that promise. She advocated for me in a way I have never experienced from a nurse, other than my own mother.

When the doctor came in, Candice was present, and I could tell she had already taken the initiative to explain my history of trauma. He addressed my concerns directly, even changing my pain regimen from “as needed” to scheduled doses so I would not have to beg for medication or suffer through the night. This single change lifted a huge burden from me and prevented me from reliving past trauma.

I have had a lot of experience with nurses, and it is rare to find someone who treats a young woman patient with such empathy and empowerment. Too often, I have been talked down to or dismissed. Candice is different — she is kind, she is an advocate, and she is a true caregiver. I will never forget the compassion she showed me.

More nurses should lead with empathy, advocacy, and trauma-informed care like that Candice provided. She made all the difference in my healing.