I have worked at UofL Hospital for almost three years, so when my nephrologist called to tell me I had to get admitted so they could run labs following my kidney function blood work, I came to UofL.

I chose UofL because since working here, my coworkers have felt like family to me, and I knew I’d be in good hands. I was honestly devastated by my diagnosis and did not know how to handle my emotions. Rico ended up talking to me about how to live life while having my diagnosis and how to care for my medical device, as well as giving advice and sharing his experience with me from when he had experienced a similar medical journey.

He continues to lend a helping ear and answers my questions about dialysis, my catheter, and transplant progress and meds. Rico still asks me how I feel after my dialysis treatments and follows up with me when I work with him most weekends. Rico helps me and the other techs and all the other nurses with patient care even if they are not always his patients.

Rico has made me feel less alone and has been understanding about how I feel in a way no one else could unless you have been through what we have been through. I genuinely think I would not be here due to sepsis from not knowing how to properly take care of my medical device. He also helped me to know I was not alone in this journey. Rico validated my feelings and helped me understand how badly dialysis affects you, both mentally and physically.

For all of this, I feel like I owe him my life, genuinely, but since that is a little out there, a DAISY award will have to suffice.