With this post on Twitter, Nanjiani is showing the story’s connection to reality, showing off a hospital badge discovered by Gordon’s mother.
Based on a script written by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, The Big Sick chronicles the former’s experience dealing with the latter’s parents (Holly Hunter, Ray Romano) while she was in a medically-induced coma early in their relationship.
According to the writer/actor, this little memory is from the first time that Nanjiani ever met his future in-laws, as he had given them his phone number so that they would be able to contact him whenever.