Florence Nightingale
It was the mid-1850s, and Britain was at war in Crimea. The battles led to many soldiers being sent to Scutari Hospital, where they lay wounded, often for days in their blood-stained uniforms, surrounded by candles placed in empty wine or beer bottles that served as light. Their suffering and struggle to heal was especially challenging as the hospital was unsanitary and lacked proper medical supplies, running water, and clean clothes. Disease was rampant, with more soldiers dying from infections like typhus, typhoid, cholera, and dysentery than battle wounds.
It was into this environment that Florence Nightingale and her team of 38 volunteer nurses were dispatched. Their job was to nurse wounded British soldiers back to good health.
Upon arriving, Florence recognized the many problems these soldiers were experiencing as part of their care. She wasted no time and, with unwavering determination, instigated drastic reforms. She overhauled the hospital's sanitation system and introduced clean water and adequate medical supplies. A newly installed kitchen ensured soldiers received nutritious meals, and newly erected laundry facilities provided clean clothing and bedding. Under her meticulous care, the hospital transformed.
While she led these many changes, Florence also made time to bring individual care. At night, after long, arduous days, Florence made rounds to check up on the soldiers. She wanted to visit as many as possible, but particularly the most sick. She attended to them by their bedsides, alleviated the pain of those suffering and on the brink of death, and penned correspondences to their loved ones back home. This routine led to an affectionate nickname for Florence from the soldiers. They called her "Lady with the Lamp."