I'm a 25-year-old female, and this summer I had to get my appendix out due to getting appendicitis. I went to my local hospital, Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, NH, after about one and a half days of pain, among other symptoms.

I was in the emergency room, just in complete and utter pain, just wanting to figure out what was causing said pain and symptoms. My original nurse was newer and a sweetheart. And because I was in bed the whole entirety of the day before going, I was dehydrated, and my veins were tough to stick.

Well, after the first try, after some prep work to figure out what vein would work, she got it, yet there wasn’t enough blood collected to send for all the labs they wanted to conduct, so she grabbed Aaron. I had known Aaron and his family for years, and he’d helped me before in the ER. And he’s a hero to my family, as he brought my aunt back, five years prior, with his quick and diligent thinking of doing CPR after she collapsed, having had a heart attack in the hallway of the ER. So it was quite relieving to see Aaron, as I knew I was in good hands.

So he worked a bit of his magic, but wasn’t able to get too much more blood. So he scrapped that idea and got some of the big guns. Aaron kept checking in persistently and thankfully was cracking jokes to help lighten my mood, as even with the painkillers he gave me, I still felt terrible; that was an understatement. It’s like he knew everything that I needed before I needed it. He scored me an extra blanket and talked me through anything I had questions about, even though my EMT mother was right there.

I was later sent to do a few more tests, as my white blood cell count was high. Most importantly, a CT as the ultrasound tech was gone for the night. I’d had one prior, but Aaron was ready to explain it if needed. I didn't take him up on his offer, but I did greatly appreciate it.

When I finally went in for my CT, it was nearing the end of Aaron’s shift. He stayed and waited for me to return and for the doctor to look at the findings before he left for the night. He gave a great estimate of when I would more than likely be receiving word of the findings and made sure to bid us farewell before leaving, checking one last time if there was anything I needed from him, and obviously cracking a last joke.

It was Aaron's hospitality and bedside manner that made my ER stay much more enjoyable. Yes, the other staff members I encountered in the ER were great, especially my surgeon, who joked to me that appendices are only in the body nowadays to help fund surgeons' children's college fund, and the older nurse, who took his place and doted on me when I was getting emotional as I was getting ready to head into emergency surgery.

But Aaron went above and beyond in my time of need. I hear stories of others' encounters with Aaron, and he always goes above and beyond for his patients. Quite frankly, if anyone I've come across in the healthcare system deserves a reward like this, it’s Aaron.