I have epilepsy and, unfortunately, am a frequent flyer of the ED. I have had Patrick as a nurse many times, and he is always caring, nurturing, and very efficient. He is also extremely patient and understanding of my anxieties and stressors during this hard season of my life, as we are navigating why my epilepsy is off the rails right now.

Almost every time I come in, I don’t have shoes because I typically am indoors when I seize and just have my socks or am barefoot. I have to always give a urine sample, and keep the story short and simple. I was extremely stressed and anxious about going into the bathroom because of germs, OCD, and being in my socks, etc., and the last time I was here, I had to throw away one of my favorite pairs of socks. So when he brought in the urine sample cup, I was flushed with a lot of anxiety and asked him to help me, and I was stuttering and nervous, etc. He also brought in grippy socks to put over my socks so that my socks wouldn’t touch the bathroom floor, and he did it with love and a smile!

This might seem like such a small thing, or something that is not a big deal, but for someone going through all I am right now, it meant the world. Not only am I a major germaphobe and particularly a bit OCD, but just going through so much in life right now that is making things so hard, and this gesture meant so much to me, and furthermore, it meant so much to me that he didn’t make me feel like I was being crazy or irrational for how I felt. Whenever I have to come in, even though it is heartbreaking and frustrating each time, I am always pleased to see him walk into my room and relieved to know I will be well taken care of.