I was fortunate enough to have Donnalynn Espinoza as my ICU nurse. I call her my “master nurse.” Donnalynn has a quiet demeanor most of the time. There was a combination of compassion, sweetness, strong determination, and gentleness. As a nurse with years of service, she had ways of enhancing experiences that would help her patients. Even things as simple as how a bed is angled for more comfort.

Donnalynn made herself wholeheartedly present with each of her patients and made them feel important. No corners were cut! After completing a task with me, she was always asking if there was something else she could do or get for me. As a specific example, I was having trouble with a small handheld machine to raise oxygen levels. My bad cough went off every time I would use it. I was struggling with a collapsed lung and was having difficulty breathing into it to strengthen and expand my lungs. Donnalynn was there to encourage me to reach the next goals on the apparatus, and she was my cheerleader when I reached my goals! I wanted to do that for her; she was my coach.

Another obstacle in my recovery was the large CPAP machine and the face mask. I hated the machine, and I finally refused to use it. Donnalynn quietly explained to me the reasons I should use the machine and the benefits to my brain if I did. Then she wisely asked me what I wanted to do about the machine; rather than insisting we had to use it, I could see she was right and agreed to keep trying. She was there every step of the way to see that the machine was working correctly, the mask fit perfectly, and all my needs and fears were attended to. We made it through the night, and my lungs improved! I honestly would not have made it through that treatment if Donnalynn hadn't been there with me, as my cheerleader and coach. I knew I would not have chosen to keep trying if it wasn't for her encouraging me.

Before she left for the holidays, we were very close and wished each other well. She recommended I check out sleep apnea. It turns out I do have sleep apnea!