It is very rare that you can call your hospital experience as pleasant and nurturing, but l can only describe it like that. My daughter, only 15 years old, was going through the most painful situation of her life after her Scoliosis surgery. Miraculously, Colleen appeared with a smile, welcoming us to the pediatric floor with so much hope.

She helped her so patiently, going through every step of her new journey on the pediatric floor, tolerating the most difficult time of her life. Colleen was not only her nurse through the day, but also her friend and the person who touched her heart when she needed it the most. She was very realistic and compassionate, and at the same time explained everything clearly to her.

In every situation, Colleen was like her best friend, the one who was able to keep her going. Every time shared with Colleen was full of empathy, complicity, professionalism, and trust. Colleen permanently encouraged my daughter in every simple but important step in her recovery: She encouraged her to eat all her food, to try to walk around the room, to sit down for a longer period of time on the chair, and most importantly, to keep her mind busy.

Colleen didn't hesitate to look for great ideas to support her, such as bringing her a recliner chair to feel more comfortable while sitting or choosing from a selection of Legos to keep her busy and entertained. As a mother, it is difficult to see your child going through that tremendous amount of pain, but Colleen, with her compassionate heart, connection, and empathy, achieved great steps in her recovery.

My daughter felt Colleen was her best friend during this process, and even though she hasn't seen her since we left the hospital months ago, she remembers Colleen with so much gratitude and always with a big smile on her face. We are so thankful that we had an amazing group of nurses, but my daughter felt that Colleen was more than a nurse; she was her best friend and a very authentic one.

Thank you, Colleen. You are the best!