In May of 2024, I was admitted for surgery at the main hospital of the University of Michigan. Upon arriving in the pre-op area, I met Sheila, who introduced herself as my nurse. From the start, she was warm and friendly, and even interjected humor to make the whole process of preparing me for surgery easier. For example, when instructing me to change into the gown, she said, “You’ll need to go commando today”. It was a great way to put me at ease. She was so professional, and of the many jobs that she needed to coordinate and complete, she never made me feel rushed, uncared for, or like I was “just another number”. Sheila made it a point to introduce everyone that I came in contact with in the pre-op area, and considering the number of people involved on the surgical team, this was a big job in and of itself! Some nurses answer all your needs but seem tired, overworked, or overwhelmed. Sheila, on the other hand, was happy and a ball of energy!

Once I was settled in a bit, they allowed my husband to come back to sit with me. He was perhaps a bit more nervous than I, but Sheila made him feel so comfortable as well! Somehow it came up that my husband was born in another country, and I think Sheila said she was too. Well, they then shared stories of different cultures, experiences, and food. This led to another discussion revealing good local restaurants. Since my husband is a foodie, this was a great way to keep his mind off his worries. All the while, Sheila was attentive to me and her many tasks.

While coordinating my care, Sheila noticed I was having a few hot flashes (thank you, menopause). While using her humor to relate that we share these lovely flashes, we also got to talking about how to manage them. She was so kind and thoughtful that she shared a personal remedy with me right there in the pre-op! That was so above and beyond, and I was so grateful. I felt like there was nothing Sheila wouldn't do to help keep me comfortable, in addition to her other responsibilities.
I have worked in the medical profession for many years and can honestly say that Sheila goes so far above and beyond her calling. This is not only related to her quality of care and excellence at performing her job, but also in establishing a sense of connectedness with the patient and family. Whether it was commiserating with my hot flashes or appreciating different cultural perspectives with my husband, Sheila made us feel seen, heard, and respected. These are difficult qualities to find in any profession, much less in the medical world where life moves at a breakneck speed. Sheila Cabaluna really needs to be distinguished and recognized for her excellence as a nurse, but also as a person!