A Photo, a Nurse, and a 38-Year Search for a Guardian Angel
For decades, Amanda Scarpinati held onto an old black-and-white photo—one that meant the world to her. In it, a nurse gently cradles her as a baby, wrapped in gauze and fresh from trauma. The photo was taken in 1977 at Albany Medical Center in New York, after 3-month-old Amanda had fallen off a couch into a hot-steam humidifier, suffering severe third-degree burns.
In the image, the nurse’s face is calm and comforting, a rare moment of peace for a baby in pain.
Amanda would go on to endure years of reconstructive surgeries and relentless bullying from classmates because of her appearance. But whenever things got especially tough, she’d return to that photo—finding comfort in the care and kindness the nurse had shown her, even though she never knew the woman’s name.
For 20 years, Amanda searched for that nurse, with no luck. Eventually, she turned to social media as a last-ditch effort.
And then, something incredible happened.
Amanda posted the photo on Facebook, writing: “I would love to know her name and possibly get a chance to talk to her and meet her. Please share, as you never know who it could reach.”
The response was immediate. The post went viral.
By the next day, Amanda had the answer she’d been waiting for. A former nurse at Albany Medical Center, Angela Leary, recognized the woman in the photo—it was her colleague Susan Berger. Susan had been just 21 years old at the time, fresh out of college, and she still remembered Amanda. In fact, she’d kept copies of the very same photos.
“I remember her,” Susan said. “She was very peaceful. Most babies coming out of surgery are crying or groggy, but Amanda was calm and trusting. It really stuck with me.”
Soon after, Amanda and Susan met in person for the first time in nearly four decades. Their emotional reunion was filled with hugs, tears, and gratitude.
“I don’t know how many nurses get an experience like this—someone remembering you after all that time,” Susan said. “I feel honored to represent all the nurses who cared for Amanda throughout the years.”
Amanda’s story is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that kindness and compassion can have—especially in life’s most painful moments.
If this story touched you, share it. Nurses around the world do extraordinary work, often during the darkest days of a patient’s life. They are truly heroes in scrubs.
