In April and May of 2015, I went through the most difficult time of my life and I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the people who cared for me along the way. In April I had extensive surgery to remove my thyroid and a benign thymoma. After surgery by my amazing doctors, I spent the week recovering on 8F, otherwise known as the CPICU. I want to start off by saying that this entire unit is nothing short of extraordinary and the care I had by everyone is something that made my recovery all that much easier. However, one nurse made such an impact on my life and needs to be recognized.

Natasha Zmitrowitz was with me almost that entire week encouraging me when I was in pain and scared. She gave me reasons to laugh when I couldn't find any. She helped me to become BFF's with my "cough pillow" so I was more willing to take those painful deep breaths that I really did need. When she learned that I was too short to reach the floor to get out of bed, she went and found me a bed closer to the ground which did wonders with a healing sternum. When no-one could get a needle stick for labs, she went and found some cool machine to do a pin-prick to get blood so it would hurt way less. When I went home after that week, I wanted to make sure to thank Natasha somehow.

However, that was not the end of my journey and I didn't get the chance to do that quite yet. 16 short days later I was back on 8F with complications. I remember little about that first weekend back on the unit, but when I woke up from an induced coma 10 days later, one of my first questions was, where's Natasha? For the next week or so while I was recovering, Natasha was once again by my side. She helped find "my size" bed again for me and got me a new BFF pillow!

My parents told me that while I was in my coma, Natasha had a harpist come and play for me. I have a beautiful video of this experience. However, what I will remember most about Natasha is the emotional support that I got from her. I remember feeling as if I was literally all over the place emotionally during that second hospitalization, (scared about what happened, depressed about feeling like I needed to start my recovery all over, excited to be alive). Natasha literally explained everything to me which helped me so much and feel like I could have some semblance of control. When I was confused, she would slow everyone else down so I could make sense of what people were telling me.

She encouraged me when I felt too weak to walk. When I was scared to eat for fear of choking, she was my biggest cheerleader. When I was concerned that my voice would never return to normal, she always reassured me. When I missed my best friend's wedding, she sat with me while I cried.

I had been moved the night before I was supposed to be discharged to 8G. As I was getting ready to leave that next morning, Natasha came and found me. As we were hugging and crying with joy that I got to go home, she definitely spoke healing words to me. She said that this was my time; I need to go and enjoy my life, and laugh and be strong. And that I will one day be able to return to healing people myself (I'm a Mental Health therapist).

As I am nearing the one year anniversary of that time, I felt like it would be a great opportunity to thank her. Her care for me during those 6 weeks was nothing short of extraordinary. During the hardest time in my life, I consider Natasha a gift from God. Her kindness, compassion, and care got me though that trial. When I think of Upstate Hospital in the future, I will think of Natasha and your amazing staff. I am so grateful to be alive and I will remember the amazing surgeons, RN's, PA's, NP's, Physical Therapists, Speech Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, CNA's, cafeteria food ladies who came and got my order and even the nice guy who would come and clean my room in the mornings. It is because of all of you that I get to enjoy life to the fullest each and every day now.