Dear Heather, I honestly don’t know what would’ve happened if I didn’t have my lucky charm with me. You kept me strong when I was down when I wanted to give up and I’m forever grateful for you being with me. I’ve never had a nurse like you before and UNC Rex should be grateful to have you with them. You really put a smile on my face when I would see you in the hall knowing I had an amazing nurse. Thank you for everything you did for me and my mom especially when I was told I had to get operated on for the third time and you sat there with us holding our hands and talking to me “I can’t fix you, I just can’t. I wish I could but I can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t” I hope you continue to change patients’ hospital stays like you did mine. I hope to see you soon and let me know what you think about this card at ……Love you Heather! 

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Nurse Heather has brought me so much joy whenever I see her. She lights up the room and I would feel like my pain went away. My rectal tube had fallen out and when the time came for a new one, she calmed me down and made me laugh so I wouldn’t feel the pain. She held my hand because she knew I was in pain and I haven’t had a nurse hold my hand in a long time. Even when she’s not my nurse, she would still come in to make sure I was ok and just to give me a laugh. I will really miss her when it’s my time to go and I’ve never been so happy to see a specific nurse. She would also make sure my mom or uncle who was staying the night was okay and comfortable. Thank you for everything Heather!

Update: I wanted to say a few more things about Heather. I didn’t turn these in yet because my discharge date was pushed back. Before I was taken to the OR for emergency surgery but before I was taken down, I asked if my lucky charm, Heather, could come with me. When she came into the room I just told her “I can’t do this anymore, I wanna go home.” She came to my bed got on her knees, held my hand and my mom’s hand and we cried together for a bit then something she said will stick with me forever. She said, “I can’t fix you, I wish I could but I can’t but I can be here with you and I always will.” Those words were enough to make me cry because I know some nurses try to not be emotionally attached but Heather belongs here, she is definitely special, and I’m gonna miss her the most. I’m so blessed to have had her or I don’t know what I would’ve done before my third surgery. I hope she has a chance to read this and one last time: thank you Heather for keeping me together and I love you so much for that. I don’t know how to repay you for that. I’ll see you soon in my regular clothes.