I would like to thank my nurse Sydney Baker for her kindness and compassionate heart. She went above and beyond her duties as a nurse to take care of me and always had a smile on her face and a positive attitude. I was just recently paralyzed in March and have really been struggling with depression and very low self-esteem and anxiety due to being in a wheelchair. She helped me so much by saying positive things about me and gave me hope to do the things I used to do before getting paralyzed. I was in the hospital through Christmas and she helped me so much just by being so kind and uplifting me with her kind words. So Thank you nurse Sydney Baker, you helped me way more than you know. I would vote you for president any day!

***

Yesterday could have been a serious down-turn. So much of health is attitude. Sydney reminded me of the great quote from Shawshank Redemption, “It comes down to get busy living or get busy dying.” It’s a choice. When the circus came to town yesterday, my stoma was bleeding profusely. The trust I had with Sydney enabled me not to panic and actually get empowered as I took control of myself. In more than I can express, Sydney was a huge part of that empowerment, with her excellent care, attentiveness, and compassion, which only great nurses have, I am going home today. If Sydney had not inspired me, not make choices to empower myself, my New Year would have started far worse with more days in the hospital. So here on the first day of the year, I’m looking for it to be the best year possible. Thank you Sydney for helping turn around this day and reach up for the best year ever.