Research indicates that your body's physical health is interconnected with your mental health and that the two cannot be separated. Therefore, one's mental health is imperative to healing and recovery. Over the holidays, my father was admitted to Hamot Hospital for an extended stay. He was very ill and relied completely upon the doctors and nurses to meet his physical and medical needs. Prior to his illness, he was extremely independent, active and energetic person. When his health took a sudden unforeseeable turn it was difficult for him to deal with and accept. During his stay at Hamot, my father had several different nurses. One nurse in particular, made my father's stay in the hospital less depressing and, upon each visit, gave his mental health a critical boost. That nurse is Brittany Pearson.

When Brittany entered the room, she not only greeted him with a warm and caring smile, but she also engaged in conversation with him that made him feel as though she really cared, not only about his level of comfort, healing, and recovery, but also about who he was as a person. He stated "Brittany is so endearing. Having a conversation with her is just like talking to a daughter." Those words are profound and speak volumes because my father's world IS his daughters and he enjoys our company more than anything else. When we weren't able to be there with him, it was comforting to know someone so "special" was making sure that not only were his physical needs being met, but his mental and emotional needs were met as well.

Dad still reflects upon what a caring, attentive, compassionate, sweet, and hardworking nurse Brittany Pearson is and I know she holds a special place in his heart because of it. I hope she realizes the impact her smile and kind words have on her patients' mental health daily. It is obvious that Brittany is truly meant to be in the profession she has chosen, impacting the lives of those she comes into contact with in the most positive way.