Kayla: 
I remember getting that last scan, when they confirmed I needed a C-section. And in that moment, I was just at my worst. But then Olivia reminded me that I’d be holding my baby in a couple short hours. And I could tell she was just an incredible person. 

Olivia: 
Kayla had come in through triage. We were setting her up for surgery and I remember feeling this connection between me, her, the doctor, the anesthesiologist — we were all rallying behind her. It was just an unspoken feeling of, “We’re doing our best for her.” 

Kayla: 
I was in the recovery room later that day and I heard a knock on the door. It was Olivia there to check up on me. She didn’t even work in that part of the hospital. She came by after her shift because she wanted to make sure I was doing okay. 

Olivia: 
I just wanted to solidify that connection. She wasn’t just another patient to me and I needed her to know that. I ended up staying in her room for a couple hours that night. Turns out, we grew up not too far from each other, so we had lots to talk about.

Kayla: 
So a few months after I deliver, I decide it’s time for a career change. I’m thinking about what kind of company I want to work for, and I keep coming back to the experience I had with Olivia and with BJC. So when I found a job opening in my field, I applied and was fortunate enough to get it. It’s a real honor for me to work alongside people like Olivia. 

Olivia: 
It’s funny…I’ve been in a lot of delivery rooms with a lot of patients. And there was just something about Kayla. I knew who she was and I knew what I could do for her. To think that I played some role in her coming to BJC…that’s just incredible. It puts everything in perspective. 

Melissa: 
Between caring for my mother and living with several pre-existing conditions, I was very afraid of what my COVID diagnosis could mean. After dealing with it for several weeks, I still hadn’t fully recovered. Simple actions left me exhausted and I was forced to miss the routine social activities that brought joy to my life. That’s when I reached out to BJC and met Meghan.

Meghan: 
I started my career in oncology with BJC HealthCare. When I became an RN, I moved to the ICU department and I’ve been a nurse practitioner here for a little over a year. Working in the ICU, you really learn what it means to care for someone when they need you the most. When I met Melissa, I saw someone who needed me.

Melissa: 
I remember being very nervous for that appointment and bringing my wife along for support. But Meghan was calm, reassuring and hopeful. She gave me a listening ear and healing direction. She told me how to properly use my inhaler and adjust my medication dosage. She explained that I was not alone and that healing would take time. And that’s exactly what I needed at that moment.

Meghan: 
I treat patients for anything and everything. Every day is different. But some patients just stick with you and you remember their stories. Melissa’s pre-existing conditions made her a unique case, and I was so happy I could help her find relief and live her life again.

Melissa: 
I followed Meghan’s guidance and incorporated several new health routines post-visit. Within a week of practicing her recommendations, I started to feel better. Now, I’m back to spending time with my friends, advocating for those in my community and traveling with my wife. And it’s all thanks to Meghan’s expertise and encouragement.

Meghan: 
When I look at patients like Melissa, it reassures me that I am doing exactly what I should be doing. You can’t always control a patient’s outcome, but you can control how you respond and show up for them when they need you.