I came to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County because I was physically dependent on a Benzodiazepine drug. I was very nervous, ashamed, and apprehensive about approaching the doctors and nurses about my condition, as there still exists a stigma attached to addiction and drug dependency.

Sharon Burrowes worked with me to help me titrate down off Benzodiazepines in a way that was comfortable and effective. I did not feel sick, I wasn’t in pain, and most importantly, Nurse Burrowes made me feel welcome and put all my anxieties at ease over how she would approach the subject of addiction. She made me feel welcome as a person, not as a number or a person who is “less than.” She made me feel empowered, not ashamed. She made me feel optimistic, not disheartened. She made me feel like success was a true possibility, not a long shot or abstract concept. She made me feel welcome and supported when I felt like I was all alone and had no help. Nurse Sharon Burrowes (with the help of nurse B and Dr. K) successfully got me off Benzodiazepines in a way that was comfortable, never overwhelming, and she was always empathetic and understanding. I think Nurse Burrowes should be nominated for this award because she changed my life on a fundamental level for the better.