I’m 47 years old and I just found out that I have cancer. I had been in and out of the ER 30 minutes away from the town I live in, being treated for pneumonia that would not get better. I went to a different hospital where I was told I had this cancer. I was then transported to Research Medical Center. This is where I met the nurse I have nominated. 

She came in to be my night nurse the first night I was there. She was very upbeat and happy. She immediately made me feel comfortable and relaxed. Which was not easy because I was very scared and nervous. I have three grown children who are coping with this in a lot of different ways and I am just as worried for them as I am myself. I had a really hard night that night with pain and fear. She helped me get through the night offering ideas for meds and just being calming in general. I felt bad having to push the call button so many times, and she assured me it was fine and that it was her job and that she enjoyed her job. If she had an issue with that she was in the wrong profession. She was smiling every time she came in and helped me when I cried. She looked me in the eyes and listened to everything I said. She then offered me the best solutions she could come up with. Everything she offered helped. She talked with other doctors to make sure I was getting the things I needed.

She has been here most of the days that I have spent here and has been by my side the whole way like a friend or family. She was there for me when I was embarrassed and made me comfortable to go through what I was dealing with. She has made me laugh when I wanted to cry. She met my children and was kind to them as well. She has remembered my daughter’s name and referred to her several times throughout my stay, making sure the timing was lined up for visits and for picking up supplies for me since my daughter and I live almost 2 hours away. This nurse has been so considerate of our situation and has again almost felt like family with the care she has shown us. She has shown compassion and understanding. I have enjoyed every minute that I have spent with her through this very hard time in my life. I have grown very fond of her and care a great deal for her, too.

There is not enough room on the page to express the gratitude I have for this woman. She is kind, fun, funny, she has the most comforting voice and bedside manner. She is great at what she does and loves what she does. I feel like what I have written isn’t even the tip of the iceberg for what she has done for me. Any time I’ve had a question, I’ve been able to call her, and she has explained what is going on so I understand. If there has been something upsetting, she has solved it, so I wasn’t feeling that way or having to deal with it anymore. She took extra time with me to make sure I was okay. Even when she was here and had free time to not spend on or with me, she still came to help me. She has made my learning that I have cancer not so horrifying and has set my mind in the right direction. I’m sure I’m not the only one she has taken this great care of. She definitely deserves some recognition! An award for being so kind and smart at her job. She is an amazing asset to this hospital. I wish I could keep her all the way through my upcoming journey! I have a lot of trust and love for her. She has helped me so much! I am blessed through all this to somehow have met her. She has made it to where I can focus on my children, not my illness. Thank you so much!