I recently had my fifth surgery. I pride myself on being self-sufficient and having a high pain tolerance. However, the side effects from the antibiotics were numerous, and the pain was worse than anything I had ever experienced. The one bright spot was the compassionate care I received from my nurse. Cara’s kindness, patience, and willingness to listen made a difference in my overall experience. On my next-to-last day in the hospital, I was frustrated that my pain had gotten worse throughout the week. Cara reviewed my symptoms with me, and we collaborated on a little research. We discovered I had gained 10 pounds since being admitted, despite having little appetite. She called the pharmacist and doctor to find a solution that led to a 75% reduction in my pain level within a couple of hours. I’ll forever be grateful to Cara for the excellent care she provided. She’s extraordinary!