Grant
Keyes
December 2025
Grant
Keyes
Boise State University School of Nursing
Boise
,
ID
United States
I was admitted to the ER. Within minutes, I was told I had a hemoglobin of 3, no neutrophils or white blood cells, and a platelet count of zero. I instantly received blood and platelet transfusions while doctors told me they suspected leukemia.
With all the chaos around me and the thoughts of what my life could soon become, I was extremely grateful for Grant in his role of educating and comforting me. Through my transfusions, he distracted me by getting me ice packs and heat packs to help distract me from the IV placements, talking to me, turning on different TV channels, advocating for anti-nausea medications, and adjusting the lighting in my room to help make a terrible situation more manageable.
This was incredible - I’ve been told by many doctors and nurses that I have one of the most severe blood/needle phobias they’ve seen, and Grant was the most impactful individual in the room who got me through those first few hours. Although my body was in critical condition, it was nothing compared to my mental state in those moments, and seeing a future nurse slow down and recognize ways to improve my situation was more than I could have asked for. Grant also explained the implications of my initial diagnosis of leukemia, stating that blood counts can indicate a number of issues and that likely many other tests and scans would take place.
When I was nervous about procedures such as a bone marrow biopsy or a CT with contrast, he took the time to understand my fears while also explaining the medical techniques that would be used to keep me safe and comfortable. I am more than grateful that Grant was there to speak to me, knowing he had a proper education and had gone through clinical rotations with exposure to these types of treatments.
Throughout my three days at that hospital, Grant was consistent in presenting these comforting and educational behaviors. As time went on, my diagnosis soon became severe aplastic anemia, which was really hard to hear with such an intense fear as mine. Grant took time to explain how I could prepare mentally for the upcoming months by talking with a psychiatrist and possibly taking medications to help ease my anxiety. Having someone educate me not only on the physical side of my condition, but also the mental side, was an essential part of my push toward pursuing care.
I had no doubts in Grant’s ability to be a wonderful nurse someday, but my last night at that hospital was a true testament to his knowledge and advocacy skills. I was soon to be transported up to a more specialized hospital to run more tests and meet with hematology specialists who had seen my disease, but with such low white blood cell counts, I had developed a fever. I was feeling very ill, weak, and most of my body hurt, and visiting hours were over, so I was all alone.
After sharing my complaints with the nurse and asking if I could get any medication, my nurse said she could give me Tylenol. Grant, upon hearing this, informed me that ibuprofen is a fever reducer and that if I take it, I may risk missing signs of an infection that needs to be treated. The nurse, who typically did not handle cases like mine, immediately agreed, and she and Grant began thinking of other ways to comfort me until my transport to the other hospital later that night.
It’s hard to explain how grateful I was for Grant in that moment, advocating for something he knew could cause harm to me and ensuring I’m fully informed before making a decision. When I was transported to the other hospital, my fever was at 101°F, and my team was suspicious that I was septic. Because of Grant, I was able to get large doses of antibiotics and specialized care that kept me safe when my body had no other means to protect me.
Being someone without medical knowledge, I can’t imagine going through the whole ordeal without Grant’s guidance. I know there were things I would’ve agreed to or disagreed with that could have completely changed the course of my treatment, but Grant never let my fears or anxieties get the best of my decision-making, and he ensured that he wasn’t only a student nurse in those days, but also a compassionate person.
With all the chaos around me and the thoughts of what my life could soon become, I was extremely grateful for Grant in his role of educating and comforting me. Through my transfusions, he distracted me by getting me ice packs and heat packs to help distract me from the IV placements, talking to me, turning on different TV channels, advocating for anti-nausea medications, and adjusting the lighting in my room to help make a terrible situation more manageable.
This was incredible - I’ve been told by many doctors and nurses that I have one of the most severe blood/needle phobias they’ve seen, and Grant was the most impactful individual in the room who got me through those first few hours. Although my body was in critical condition, it was nothing compared to my mental state in those moments, and seeing a future nurse slow down and recognize ways to improve my situation was more than I could have asked for. Grant also explained the implications of my initial diagnosis of leukemia, stating that blood counts can indicate a number of issues and that likely many other tests and scans would take place.
When I was nervous about procedures such as a bone marrow biopsy or a CT with contrast, he took the time to understand my fears while also explaining the medical techniques that would be used to keep me safe and comfortable. I am more than grateful that Grant was there to speak to me, knowing he had a proper education and had gone through clinical rotations with exposure to these types of treatments.
Throughout my three days at that hospital, Grant was consistent in presenting these comforting and educational behaviors. As time went on, my diagnosis soon became severe aplastic anemia, which was really hard to hear with such an intense fear as mine. Grant took time to explain how I could prepare mentally for the upcoming months by talking with a psychiatrist and possibly taking medications to help ease my anxiety. Having someone educate me not only on the physical side of my condition, but also the mental side, was an essential part of my push toward pursuing care.
I had no doubts in Grant’s ability to be a wonderful nurse someday, but my last night at that hospital was a true testament to his knowledge and advocacy skills. I was soon to be transported up to a more specialized hospital to run more tests and meet with hematology specialists who had seen my disease, but with such low white blood cell counts, I had developed a fever. I was feeling very ill, weak, and most of my body hurt, and visiting hours were over, so I was all alone.
After sharing my complaints with the nurse and asking if I could get any medication, my nurse said she could give me Tylenol. Grant, upon hearing this, informed me that ibuprofen is a fever reducer and that if I take it, I may risk missing signs of an infection that needs to be treated. The nurse, who typically did not handle cases like mine, immediately agreed, and she and Grant began thinking of other ways to comfort me until my transport to the other hospital later that night.
It’s hard to explain how grateful I was for Grant in that moment, advocating for something he knew could cause harm to me and ensuring I’m fully informed before making a decision. When I was transported to the other hospital, my fever was at 101°F, and my team was suspicious that I was septic. Because of Grant, I was able to get large doses of antibiotics and specialized care that kept me safe when my body had no other means to protect me.
Being someone without medical knowledge, I can’t imagine going through the whole ordeal without Grant’s guidance. I know there were things I would’ve agreed to or disagreed with that could have completely changed the course of my treatment, but Grant never let my fears or anxieties get the best of my decision-making, and he ensured that he wasn’t only a student nurse in those days, but also a compassionate person.