I entered the Critical Care Unit tired and overwhelmed; but despite my sickness, my night nurse, Johanna, made me feel better. Right away, she put me more at ease. My first night I was upset, worried, and scared because of the pain and my high fever; I didn't know at that point really what to expect. There were tests to take, and results to wait on. It was a little scary. I improved slowly with time; however, it was Johanna who boosted my spirits up the most. When I needed someone to talk to, or to ease my anxiety, I could count on Johanna to make me feel happier. Words cannot describe how grateful and delighted I am that Johanna was my nurse. Joanna went above and beyond in her efforts to care of me.
The first night, Johanna held my hand when I felt alone and scared. Beachfront Bargain Hunt was on, and we talked about dream house locations, helping me reach a calmer state. Joanna also sat by my side. To help me relax and fall asleep, she read Anne of Green Gables aloud. On my iPad, we watched the TV show Corner Gas. Unintentionally, both are Canadian! Johanna shared with me that she even found and watched an episode from home, which made my day. Johanna asked about my interests and remembered the little things I liked. We talked about hobbies, our families, and all sorts of topics, especially my dog! Johanna was always funny, telling jokes to make me laugh. We joked that my parents should have sneaked my dog in with a trench coat, sunglasses, and a hat.
The extra time that I got to spend with Joanna means so much to me. After four days in the hospital, I was excited to go home and see my friends. Yet, I was sad when it was my last day to see Joanna; she had helped me tremendously throughout my stay at the CCU. Every nurse and doctor I had was wonderful, kind, caring, and looked out for me. This is especially true of Johanna Gymrek, who I am extremely grateful to have had as my nurse.