Nurse Jessica Marlow is responsible, in great part, for me being alive. On a rainy Friday in November, I was air transported to DMC late in the evening from Sonora Regional Hospital. I had an internal bleed, but where it was located a mystery. From Friday through Monday afternoon I was stabilized and maintained. However, the bleed continued. There was no forward progress on determining the nature or location of the bleed. These things happen in life, no fault of anyone, but circumstance. What happened next rarely happens. Jessica was my nurse, and I asked her if she had time for a conversation. Of course she did. I explained that I felt undone, untethered as I was removed from my community and support system with no one looking out for me in the daily goings on at the hospital. I was in no shape to look out for myself having lost seven (7) units of blood already. Jessica listened, and she heard me. She went to bat for me! She made inquiries: where was my hospitalist? Turns out he had jury duty and his patient case load had been split between two other doctors. I wasn't on either list. Within an hour Dr. G, a wonderful doctor, was at my bedside. Before day's end I had tests and was scheduled for an endoscopy the next morning. I will forever be indebted to this loving nurse who took the time to listen; acted upon it; and gave me back my life.

Note: This is Jessica's second DAISY Award!