Though I had a brain tumor that needed to be removed, my overall physical health was better than the typical patient in this unit. And more importantly, my mental attitude was confident and positive. I believe this outlook helped greatly with my successful surgery and speedy recovery and it could easily have been stifled or soured by the wrong interaction. While all of the staff was pleasant and skilled, McKenzie was particularly able to “think outside the box” and adjust her style to this atypical patient. She laughed and joked around with me, accepting my brash, irreverent style, and made sure I got the necessary levels of food, exercise, and positive energy to continue to be myself in this setting. She trusted me to do many things for myself, instead of insisting on over-nursing and allowed me to walk around the unit for exercise…still following the rules, of course, and watching out for my safety without being a worrywart. Her confidence in me then carried over to other staff members, who had initially been reluctant to let me walk and to treat me a little bit differently that what they had become accustomed to in this unit.

I thank McKenzie for easily adapting to my style and fostering the idea among the whole unit that I shouldn’t be dragged down into helplessness or despair. I honestly believe that in the end, it made a significant difference in my physical health.