I was admitted to the hospital for a partial hysterectomy. While being prepared for surgery, I was informed that my recovery room would be on the Labor & Delivery floor. I will admit, I had some initial hesitation. The L&D team is widely known for its incredible work with labor and delivery, but I wondered how my recovery would be handled following a hysterectomy.

While I was in surgery, my husband was escorted to my room, where he met Connie, the nurse who would be caring for me. From the very beginning, Connie greeted him warmly, answered his many questions, showed him the hospital amenities, and even helped him navigate the process of being a return visitor. Her kindness immediately put him at ease.

When I was brought into my room, Connie was the first person I remember meeting. She immediately went to work, ensuring I was settled and comfortable, removing unnecessary connections, adjusting required monitoring so it was comfortable, and responding quickly to every need. When I mentioned nausea, she returned promptly with crackers. When I had a headache, she dimmed the lights and created a calm, restful environment. She patiently answered my repeated questions, gently helped me find words when anesthesia left me confused, and assisted me in getting cleaned up and presentable so I could feel human again when my children came to visit.

Despite it being a holiday, Connie made my entire family feel welcomed and included. Her compassion extended not only to me, but to those I love most.

Connie knew my goal was to return home as soon as possible, and she was exceptional in clearly explaining what I needed to do to support the best possible recovery. She walked with me to get me moving, encouraged proper hydration, bathroom care, and explained exactly what milestones I needed to meet. Every tip, trick, and word of advice was invaluable, not only during my stay, but long after I returned home. A common phrase in my recovery became, "Well, Connie said..." as I followed her guidance faithfully.

Because of her care and encouragement, I felt fantastic at my one-week post-op appointment and even asked my doctor for permission to return to work. The extraordinary level of care Connie provided to me as a non-L&D patient on the floor speaks volumes about her adaptability, professionalism, and heart for nursing. She truly embodies what compassionate healthcare should look like and stands out as one of the brightest stars at ECU Chowan.

Thank you for allowing her to be my nurse.