During my clinical experience this semester I feel that I learned a lot, gained crucial first year experience, and made some small differences for my patient’s throughout my 5 weeks at the facility. One difference that sticks out to me the most is from my first day there. The patient was being discharged that day after being in the hospital for an extensive amount of time. After talking to this patient and their partner, I  learned that they have been through the wringer. Hospital after hospital, months after months of testings, procedures and being pricked and prodded at, they finally get to go home. To be a part of their special day meant a lot to me, but I feel like it meant even more for them. I was able to sit with them both and have a genuine conversation about their experiences over the last year. It was a therapeutic conversation that I felt they needed to have. For some, reliving their past may be sad and can cause a whirlwind of feelings, but for others I have learned it is an essential part of the healing process. It was a time of reflection for both the patient and their partner, and was emotional for all of us. Although I didn’t do much for them except lend them my ear and occasionally ask questions, I truly felt like I made a difference in that moment. After our heart-to-heart the nurse gave them their discharge papers and did patient education. We then all walked down to the parking lot and we sent them on their way. When we got them in their car they both looked at me and the nurse and said thank you for everything. At the moment I was confused as to why they may say that. I had only just met them only 30 minutes prior but looking back I feel as though our conversation was what they were referring to. Making a difference for a patient does not have to be some cosmic event. It is the little things that we can do to make their day even just a little better. I am thankful I was able to make a difference for that patient and thankful they were able to make a difference for me too.