Today was truly a bad day. It was a day when all my fears and PTSD of the word cancer came back into my life. This time, a new type of cancer, invasive melanoma.

Today I had to go to pre-admission testing for surgery to remove a large portion of my right arm in hopes of removing all of the melanoma. I was greeted with the friendliest staff from check-in to check out, as I held back tears and was truly scared.

However, when I was pulled back from the moment Shannon walked in, her presence gave me hope. She greeted me with the most welcoming and wonderful smile that calmed my fears. She explained consent, the steps, what to expect, and location with grace and in such great detail. Before leaving, she said I am old enough to be your mother. May I pray with you? I said yes, I would love that. Shannon prayed and said every word my soul needed. My tears I held back were gone, and I felt like I was going to be okay. We exchanged the biggest hug before I left. She then said, "I hope you have the best day and take the rest of day off." I responded, I am headed to work. She then realized I too was an HCA nurse, and she was like, "Girl, you could have told me. I would not have shown you the map." I said no, I appreciate the detail.

It was in that moment that I realized Shannon truly embodies the care like family. She treats every patient who walks in the door just as she treated me. It was not that I was in scrubs, it was that she saw me, a scared patient. A patient who needed hope and strength, and she gave me that. She is an amazing nurse and deserves the DAISY Award. She is who I hope one day to be for my patients.