I went to the emergency room with piercing pain in my lower stomach area. I was thinking I would receive a muscle relaxer and pain pills, and be on my way home. Instead, I was admitted with a tube placed through my nose, down my throat and into my upper stomach. It turned out I had a blockage and they needed to remove the pressure. Early in the night it was apparent the catheter was too small, hence it needed to be removed and a larger one placed in. Friday they removed the tube and I needed to get a colonoscopy prep for Saturday morning. The doctor that performed the colonoscopy came and talked with my four daughters and I, and told us the blockage was cancer. He explained the next surgery, which was to remove the section of colon that the cancer was in and reattach it. He was hoping surgery would be done on Monday, but if not, it would be Tuesday. I was put on clear liquids and later NPO. As I was going to the bathroom during the night, I felt tired and weak; I knew I needed to get back to bed. Unfortunately, I didn't make it and dropped to the floor. It turned out my blood pressure had dropped and I was low on potassium.

Sunday I was told I needed another prep for surgery. As they set that large jug down for me to drink, I was overwhelmed and couldn't stop the tears from rolling. That is when my angel of a nurse Vonnie came into my life. She without hesitation came and hugged me. At one point on Sunday, my heart started racing, so I was ordered an echocardiogram. As the procedure was beginning, my heart rate took off and was 160. The ICU nurse came to see what was going on and a doctor ordered something for my IV and an oral pill. Unfortunately, it continued and went even faster. All of a sudden, the ICU team rushed into the room and said I was to be transported to the unit. That was my breaking point and I started crying like a baby. That's when Vonnie ordered everyone to just stop and give me a few minutes to process. As they waited outside the door, she came to me and held me, like a mother holds her child, and let me get it all out. You see, I have four wonderful daughters and July 30th of this year, I lost my husband of 52 years. They went through so much — it broke their hearts. Then to see me going through all this - I was so worried for them. Everything I was going through, I did it for them.

I was able to have my surgery on Tuesday and the cancer was removed. I know I was at my breaking point and I could not have kept going, without Vonnie's help. I was SO impressed with the entire staff, they were ALL so kind and compassionate but Vonnie was more than kind. She is such a very special nurse; I believe God placed her into my life when I needed her the most. She picked me up at my lowest. I believe there are angels that walk this earth and she is mine!