The Ripple Effect of a Simple Act

While visiting patients at a children’s hospital last week, a little boy asked who my favorite nurse was during my own hospital stay. It felt a bit like being asked to pick a favorite child, but I shared the story of how one nurse’s seemingly simple acts had a mighty impact on my life.

The list of extraordinary caregivers at Mercy who helped me survive burns over my entire body is long—Cissy the brilliant charge nurse, Lisa the fiery floor nurse, Roy the visionary man who helped me walk forward, and Delores the lovely CNA with a contagious laugh. But the one I told that boy about last week was Sue Rodrigues.

There are many reasons why Sue came to mind with that question. When the power suddenly failed one afternoon as I laid in bed, connected to a respirator and unable to breath for myself, Sue sprinted into my room and began manually pumping air into my lungs until the generators kicked on. I didn’t realize then how close to death I was—only that she calmly stayed by my side and went about her work.

Far less dramatic but just as memorable to me is the day a family member forgot to bring the milkshake they’d promised. At the end of what I’m sure was a long shift, Sue clocked out, drove to Steak ’n Shake, and returned with one. Nearly four decades later, I still remember the joy of that small gesture.

And on my last day in the hospital, as I prepared to go home, she sat beside me, told me I was remarkable, and gave me a small gift so I’d always remember I was special. I kept that gift for years.

But more than the professionalism, the milkshakes, and the gifts, Sue gave me something far greater: the belief that my life had value.

When you’re wrapped in bandages, poked by doctors, stretched by therapists, and drained by endless procedures, it’s easy to feel like an object rather than a person. It’s easy to see only the wounds, to question if the suffering is worth it, to slip into hopelessness.

Yet Sue saw me. She reminded me I mattered. And for a nine-year-old boy -especially one who thought his nurse was absolutely beautiful-  that belief transformed not just my hospital stay, but how I viewed myself for years to come.

I realized that if someone like Sue could see value in a broken, scarred little boy, maybe one day another girl might be able to love me too. I had no idea what her name might be, where I’d meet her, how stunningly gorgeous Beth would actually be or what our life might hold, but I knew she’d have a heart as beautiful as Sue’s.

My friends, here’s the truth: you’ll never fully know the ripple effect of your life. A word of encouragement, a simple gift, a small act of love can forever alter someone’s trajectory. Sue didn’t just help save my life. She gave me a reason to believe it was worth saving.

So this week, I challenge you to be someone’s “Sue.” Offer kindness. See someone’s worth. Remind them they matter.

Because they may forget what you said or did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.

Today is your day. Live Inspired.