I have been dealing with depression, suicide, Bi-polar depression, mental health problems since about the age of 12. I have tried to kill myself countless times in my 48 years of life, but for some reason I haven’t been successful, by the grace of God! I’ve drank bleach, gas, anti-freeze, and I’ve cut myself. I’ve pretty much been in a dark place no one would ever want to be. I’m not saying there hasn’t been professionals who haven’t been good, but this nurse precedes her title. Her bedside manner alone, she makes you feel like Family! Like we shared the D, the N, and the A, if you feel me. She went so far as to let me know how special I make others feel, and all the energy I put into making others feel is just as if not more important as putting that energy and love into myself.

“After all, how can you help someone if you can’t help yourself,” she says. There’s been days that I’ve given all of myself to others and at the end of the day I feel so empty because no one took the time to care about me like I care about them until I met her. She took so much time just talking with me, crying with me, laughing with me, and truly loving me in the little time we spent together. About a good week and a half in this unit, feels like a lifetime. I would look forward to her coming into work. She would make sure to let me know my meds are ready and when I’m ready to take them. She also had a hug ready for me if I needed it and a napkin ready if I cried. You can’t find that in everyone, she really listened when I talked which was major to someone like me. To me, Leslie is more than a nurse, a 1st responder, she’s an angel and mostly my friend. Thank you, from me and countless others for being you, my love!