I unfortunately spend a good amount of time in and out of the ER due to my sickle cell. When I come in, seeing Ron is a huge relief. He works fast and always starts by asking me how I'm doing.

The conversations I have with him feel very down-to-earth and help take my mind off the pain until something can be done to really help me. He's always understanding, and I never feel judged by him. Sickle cell patients are often treated badly by staff, and that can make coming to the hospital an awful experience, to the point where sometimes I'll sit at home in a level ten pain just to avoid feeling invalidated by nurses and doctors who don't fully understand my situation.

Nurses like Ron make getting help easy and don't make me feel like I'm less than for being chronically ill. He shows amazing compassion and understanding towards me and my situation. If every nurse were like him, I would never be afraid to go to any hospital. All I ever want when I get to a hospital is to be listened to and actually heard, and he does that with ease.

When he's here, I only have to deal with physical pain and not mental pain caused by people being cruel to me. He's hilarious, attentive, and a fast worker, all while putting a smile on my face. If everyone had a mind as sharp as his and a heart as kind, the world would undoubtedly be a better place. 

Thank you, Ron, for not seeing me as just a patient but as a human being with thoughts, feelings, and emotions that matter. Because not everyone always does.