Rosemary "Ro" Walsh, BSN, RN

In January, I was hospitalized for 2 weeks prior to and following emergency surgery for a perforated bowel. This nurse cared for me for several nights during the last and most emotionally and physically difficult stage of the hospitalization. I was in pain, scared, angry, and ashamed of my body, which I had little control over; in short, I was a mess. I remember feeling relief every time I heard that she would be my nurse because I knew that I could rely on her to be comforting and supportive and to provide the care I needed. One thing she did that was so helpful was with my wife, they gave me a bedtime routine that relaxed me and get me ready for to sleep for the night. Also, when I had difficulty with PT activities, she encouraged me by reminding me how far I had come, which made me want to continue. I feel like my description doesn’t do her justice; she was a lighthouse during a storm. It sounds cheesy, but that’s what she was. A positive guide I could rely on when my life and body felt like a scary disaster.