My brother was admitted to the hospital in August. For the past 50 years, he has been a resident at the Hunterdon Developmental Center. He is developmentally disabled and autistic. He does not communicate verbally and needs assistance with daily living. Hospitalization is scary for everyone, but especially for my brother because of his disabilities and inability to understand why he feels sick and why he must go to the hospital. To say he was frightened was an understatement. Nurse Shannon knew how to relate to V and allay his fears. She was calm and didn’t rush when she was with him. She talked to him and explained what she was doing to him even though it was questionable if he understood. Nurse Shannon made V the focus of her attention whenever she was with him. Little things she did like giving him ice cream with his pills made a really big difference. She kept him calm in a situation that could have resulted in him becoming very agitated. Shannon is caring, knowledgeable, and always professional. She truly deserves this honor.