I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the level of care, kindness, and understanding I received recently at the Waterman AdventHealth hospital. To one of your outstanding nurses, Ashley Pucino, in particular.

I would like to preface this letter with a few explanations. First, I have been a teacher in Orange County Schools for almost 30 years, with 22 years at Apopka High School. Because of different medical situations, I have had probably 10 stays in the last 10 years. They have been at either your Apopka Hospital or Orlando Southern. 

With my past medical stays and four being very recent, I finally had a meltdown in a way I have never had before. Patience and control are part of what I have done in the last thirty years of teaching, and it has not happened in my classroom. Nurse Ashley Pucino has got to be the most tremendous nurse you have. What I put her through, I don’t think many could have handled better than her, with the highest level of professionalism.

I want to say something so you understand the level of respect I have for this nurse. I have seen many over the years who have been tremendous, but Nurse Ashley is the absolute highest quality I have encountered at AdventHealth. I am not open to disingenuous compliments or blowing unwarranted sunshine or praise toward anyone who has not earned my immense respect. So that I am clear and there is no misunderstanding between us – she is the best!

I live in a nearby district, but have been a significant part of the Apopka community as the sponsor of the Student Government Association of Apopka High School for 20 years, before I had to step down due to health concerns.

I’ve known every mayor on a first-name basis and experienced excellence in numerous ways as a teacher. I’ve been fortunate to have been named Teacher of the Year at two different schools that I have worked at and have seen firsthand those who have never received the honor their whole career, but in a perfect world should have because of not only the excellence they bring to their job, but the commitment they bring every day.

I obviously have not known Nurse Ashley long, or if she has ever received a well-deserved recognition for what she brings to AdventHealth, but I know quality when I see it. There are many ways she could have handled my complex meltdown, but she held back any natural reaction she may have been feeling. I am not proud of the fact that I upset her so much. Later, after a good ventilator nap, I apologized profusely to her several times. Nurse Ashley graciously accepted it, but I want to do more.

 I took 49 weeks off from school with recommendations from my doctors to fully recover before August. My mountain of sick days I collected and earned in my thirty years of service had finally run out. When I return to school, I will start with a fresh set, though not a huge number. I am so earnest in my support for Nurse Ashley Pucino.