Healing comes in many forms. Sometimes affirmation, encouragement and inspiration come from unexpected sources. Gina DeBartolo, a regional resource nurse, was assigned to be one particular patient’s ICU nurse after he had undergone lung surgery at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale. However, she was in need of some healing herself.
Gina had recently experienced a difficult pregnancy. While she was on maternity leave, her longtime fiancée was hospitalized. They were facing financial stress, and she worried that the rift between her family was widening. Although she did not discuss these details with her patient, meeting him gave her a new perspective on life.
“It all happened out of the blue,” Gina said. “I never expected to find such a high level of empathy and understanding from someone who was dealing with serious health problems and recovering from surgery. I want to thank him for restoring my faith in humanity.”
Her patient’s kindness not only brightened her day, but also reminded Gina why she became a nurse in the first place.
“He helped me remember why those kinds of traits are still very important in nursing,” she continued. “With all the modern treatments available, it’s easy to get lost in the details and forget the healing power of simply having a positive relationship with your patient.”
