I will never forget the morning when Nurse Deyi Appalsamy saved my life.

I was having breakfast in the office like any ordinary day when, suddenly, I began to choke. Within seconds, I couldn’t breathe. Panic took over. I tried to speak, to call for help, but no sound came out. The room began to blur, and I felt myself fading. I remember thinking, “Is this how my life ends at work, at a breakfast table?”

People around me noticed, but the responses were uncertain, hesitant, unsure of what to do. I could see the shock and worry in their eyes, but I was losing air too fast.

And then Deyi appeared. Without hesitation, without a second of doubt, she rushed to me. Her presence alone brought a sense of calm in the middle of chaos. She assessed the situation instantly and began first aid with precise, confident movements. She did not panic; her focus was on saving my life.

While others froze in fear, Deyi acted. With firm, skilled hands, she applied the life-saving first aid maneuver. I felt the blockage loosen, and air rushed back into my lungs. In that moment, life returned to me.

After Allah’s mercy, Deyi brought me back from the edge. Even after the ambulance arrived and I was transferred to the Emergency Department, she remained present, making sure I was safe and cared for.

It was not just her medical knowledge that saved me that day; it was her compassion, her courage, and her instinctive commitment to protect a person in need. Her calmness in crisis, her quick response, and her dedication reflect the true spirit of nursing, a profession built on mercy, humanity, and service.

I pray that Allah rewards her abundantly for her noble act and blesses her always. I am alive today because she chose to act when every second mattered.