Over a year ago, I was hospitalized at Southdale Hospital on the Neurology unit for about five weeks. I was admitted around the New Year, so truthfully, it was a really big deal to look back on and think about this time of my life. The one person who had a big impact was Barb Nelson. One day, Barb came into my room and we talked about our love for traveling, and that sparked a connection. From that day onward, she was very intentional. She would go down for scans with me, and she even made me a tie blanket that I still use every night. She gave me hope during one of the darkest times of my life. During this time, a lot of my medical problems were being dismissed, but she reminded me to hold onto hope and that someday I’d finally have answers. She was right. I knew my truth, and she helped me fight for that! Now months later, I finally have my seizures under control due to the meds that I’m on, and I have been getting nutrition through a tube in my stomach for a few months now. For me, the impact she made on my life was not only incredible, but the connection with her is one I’ll also never forget. She told me she believed me when I was struggling with depressive thoughts, and encouraged me to fight. This coming Sunday will mark six months since my last suicide attempt. It was my last ever attempt, and the last time that I hope I ever see the walls of an ICU. Every time I think of how far I’ve come, I remember Barb and will always think of her as my cheerleader. She encouraged me to fight for my future! She helped me to see the light and reminded me that even though I had a past filled with a lot of trauma, I had a bright future. Even though that was hard to see at the time, now I have held a job for a few months, which I absolutely love, and I even live in a studio apartment. I will forever cherish the memories we got to share in room 21. Barb is a superhero, and one of a kind! Barb, two days later, when I got discharged from Riverside after being transferred there from Southdale, you would’ve loved the look on my face. I was the happiest I had been in so long.