I am writing today to nominate an outstanding nurse who has left a long-lasting impact on my life, Lisa Leblanc. As an employee of SSM Health, I have had the privilege of working side by side with many amazing, compassionate, and selfless nurses. It wasn’t until my recent hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit that I realized how super-human the individuals who choose the nursing profession truly are. This was exemplified daily by Lisa while in her care. Prior to my recent hospitalization, my only health care was a routine yearly checkup.

This year, my checkup unexpectedly resulted in needing a quadruple bypass heart surgery at the ripe age of 35. A flurry of emotion was followed by the reality of my life changing forever. I would require a surgery that would leave me unable to do much for myself, and also leave me needing to slowly rebuild stamina to do normal everyday things thereafter. I have never had to think about leaving my life in anyone’s hands but myself until this experience. Following surgery, I was placed in the intensive care on numerous tubes, catheters, IV lines, etc. I was unable to move on my own, and it seemed as if everything hurt. Lisa was introduced to me on the first day of my ICU stay, and I was able to rest.