I came to the hospital with a serious lower intestine issue I didn’t even know I had. From the start, things were rough. On my first night, a feeding tube was inserted through my nose, causing bleeding on one side and intense irritation on the other. I was miserable.

Worse, the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. After several days of uncertainty and pain, I gave up. I checked myself out of the hospital against medical advice. I told my wife I was leaving because no one had answers.

But the truth was hard: I thought I was dying, and I wanted to do it in peace, not hooked up to machines.

On the way home, I started vomiting in the car. My family was relieved to see me until I told them I’d left the hospital on my own. The disappointment in their eyes hit me harder than any symptom. After a bath and a moment of reflection, I asked my wife to take me back.

After spending seven hours in the ER, I was finally admitted to a room, and that’s when everything changed. The nurse assigned to me was Hope Hansen. From the moment she walked in, she could tell I wasn’t just physically unwell, I was emotionally drained and in a dark place.

Hope didn’t hesitate. She told me, with calm confidence, that she was the best at placing nasal tubes and would do everything she could to help me.

She reviewed my chart and immediately noticed how raw my nasal passages were. She explained that I should never have been given a tube that size in the first place. Her attention to detail and advocacy made me feel seen.

What stood out the most was her method: it was gentle, thoughtful, and deeply caring. She walked me through every step, explaining what she was doing and why. Her approach wasn’t just clinical, it was human. And she nailed it.

Hope took that moment to talk to me, not just about my symptoms, but about how I got there and what she could do to help. She went above and beyond in ways I never expected. She was always available, answered every question I had, and made me feel like I was her most important patient. Her follow-up was flawless.

I want to recognize Hope for her amazing efforts, her professionalism, and the lasting impression she left on me.I got the surgery I need to repair the physical damage. But more importantly, I found myself again.

Thank you, Hope, for truly being that bright star on some very dark nights. And for giving me what you have given so many others. Hope!