When I was admitted to Kaiser Downey, I didn’t know what to expect. The doctors had found a tumor on my spine, and I was told I’d probably be in the hospital for at least two weeks while they ran tests and waited for results. I was scared, uncomfortable, and honestly just trying to process what was happening until Apple walked into my room. She immediately noticed the Super Mario LEGO set I had built and started asking me questions about it. From that first moment, she had me laughing, and for a little while, I forgot why I was even there.

Over the next few days, Apple became more than just my nurse; she became the person who made some of my hardest days a little easier. She checked on me constantly, made sure I was comfortable, and always showed up with a smile and a sense of humor that lifted my spirits when everything felt heavy. Even on the days she wasn’t assigned to me, she would still stop by just to say hi or see how I was doing. We laughed, joked, and had conversations that made me feel normal again. She let me be myself, sarcastic, stubborn, and all, and somehow understood that humor was a key part of how I coped. But there were also real, tough moments. I had never been constipated before, or at least not that I remember an experience, and I never expected to share in a story like this. But Apple handled it with grace, patience, and humor. She broke the news to me that I might need a suppository or enema. I fought her on what needed to happen, but she found the perfect balance between seriousness and humor and convinced me to trust her. And she was right, immediate relief. She always seemed to know exactly what I needed, even when I didn’t.

After almost two weeks in the hospital room, I kept asking if it was possible for me to go outside to get some sunlight and fresh air. She somehow made it happen, and we went outside for about 15 minutes. It might sound small, but it meant everything. Apple’s kindness, calmness, and humor made me feel safe and cared for when I didn’t have my mom or sisters around. She reminded me that I wasn’t alone and that I was surrounded by people who genuinely cared.

Not long after my stay, I was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. Looking back, Apple was one of the first people who helped me feel strong enough to face what was coming. I didn’t get to thank her when I left, but I hope this reaches her. I hope she remembers me, the patient with the Super Mario LEGO set. Apple truly went above and beyond in every way, and I’ll never forget her kindness, her laughter, or the way she made me feel.