I'll try to keep this short as I can. Forgive me if it runs long. Nurse Kelly was the very first nurse I had the pleasure of being treated by while here for my illness. I actually left the hospital the next day after the first day of being here and they called me back in and miraculously I came back to the same unit and was assigned the same nurse again, thankfully!

Kelly immediately put me at ease, made me feel welcomed and comfortable. Which was a great relief considering the anxiety, sickness and pain that I was experiencing at that time. I was diagnosed with sepsis in the blood and as you know that can be a very, very dangerous thing and so her kind words and soft gentle demeanor, as well as the very real care and concern and kindness that she exhibits naturally, really made all of the difference for me and would pave the way for a stay that was day and night better than it could have been. I came in with pre-existing chronic pain in my low back and neck. That pain was already debilitating in my life, but the increased stress and extra pain resulting from the sepsis and all of the sitting down and not being able to move around like I used to (which helped with the pain) increased my suffering to a degree that scared me and made me worried how I was going to get through this illness. I was concerned because I came into this hospital after being on long term buprenorphine medication. As you know, buprenorphine is typically given to drug addicts in order to keep them from using other opiates. For me, I transitioned to it because I do have chronic pain but I was sick of taking a narcotic everyday for years and bupenorphine is used to treat pain, though to a lesser degree. But because I was on that medication, and because of a note that was placed in my file a long time ago, my doctor at the hospital was unwilling to treat my pain, concerned (reasonably so) that doing so would cause a relapse and not certain that pain medication was truly warranted. Me, fully understanding the ramifications of the situation I was in, became very very scared and desponded. Worried how I was going to make it through this being in such agony with no one willing to help me with it. I even had to contact my pain management doctor and he contact the doctor at the hospital who urged them to treat my pain. But I know that if it wasn't for nurse Kelly, who saw my daily suffering in and out, knew it was very real and severe, and who petitioned upon my behalf as much as she could, I would not have received relief.

Nurse Kelly used the trust she had built up over the years, along with the strong relationships she had fostered and grown through tireless, oftentimes thankless service and duty and was successfully able to help my doctor come to the right decision that gave me hope and relief in my darkest hour which without such, I honestly don't know what I would have done. I owe so much to Kelly and I was shocked to hear that she has been so overlooked for so long because anyone can just come and do their job. I've had more than a few healthcare workers just mail it in without truly investing in my well being, but Kelly is the antithesis of that and I wish there existed even just one other like her because she is the gold standard to her profession.Kelly didn't just petition for me.

I needed an MRI of my back to see if my sepsis had infection in it since it was so painful. I couldn't lay down still for even 2 minutes of the first MRI attempt (MRI needed over hour and a half of constant stillness!) so after I finally began receiving pain medication to help with my overall general pain, Kelly ensured to stay in contact (using her great relationships built over the years) to communicate with my doctor, the MRI team, and transportation in order to time my next dosage just right so that I would have the maximum pain relief RIGHT BEFORE I went down for my MRI to ensure I was able to endure it (it was still torturous at the end and I barely made it through, but because of her I did!) Kelly stayed in contact with my MRI transport before I went down, watching when they would come grab me, to ensure I received my meds at just the right time in order to pass my test ON TOP of her other duties and at the very end of her long 12 hour shift! I mean nobody will ever know the amount of care and dedication Kelly poured in to make sure my health improved, my pain was controlled and I received what I needed. I don't even want to consider what my stay here would have been like without her and I know I CAN'T be the only one to feel that way.

That was just one story of several, she was on top of everything while I was here. The fastest nurse to respond, never forgot anything, never promised something she couldn't deliver.... I could go on and on. But I know I've written a lot and I pray that what I've said is enough to convince you to look into the great works this amazing nurse has accomplished and I ask you to nominate and PRESENT her with this award on behalf of the outpouring of gratitude from this one anonymous sick person who was saved from a mountain of suffering because of her and her alone. The Lord's hand is on my life and I know He placed her in my suffering on purpose and I'm so grateful for it!