When you find yourself in the hospital, feelings of fear, anxiety and vulnerability easily overcome you. Your mind becomes lost in everything going on around you. People become a blur and all the moments seem to blend together. That was me not long ago when I found myself in the ICU at Sanford Medical in Bismarck, North Dakota. I was terrified of everything going on around me and to me. Even though I was surrounded by people that I knew were working hard to help me, I quickly felt very alone. Then in walked Ms. Tina Volk, RN, with a big smile and kind eyes.

With empathy and patience, she explained things to me in a way that made sense. She even went the extra mile to double-check if I actually understood what she was saying. I felt like she was talking to me, not just at me. I immediately had a sense of relief and was able to take a deep breath. I knew I was in good hands. That scary place began to seem not quite so scary. Tina quickly became a saving grace for me. She treated me like I was her own mother. She always made me feel like she had nothing else to do except care for me, even though I knew that in fact, she was extremely busy.

Tina was with me for a lot of my firsts in the ICU. I truly believe she gave me the strength to try things for the first time. My anxiety went away when she was around, I was able to focus on my recovery instead of letting my fear consume me. For example, she was there with me when I had my first "meal", hot water and a bouillon cube. She took the time to sit with me and make sure I was able to handle it. We talked and joked together, creating a fond memory during an otherwise difficult time. Tina also gave me my first bath, during which she made me feel comfortable and safe. She even went the extra mile to put on lotion and fix my hair, all while having a pleasant conversation and even making me giggle. Tina would say "if you need anything, I AM HERE". It was something she not only said, but she meant.

One night that stands out for me was when I had a breakdown and found myself thinking this is just too much. Then in walked Tina, who noticed I was upset and immediately sat down, grabbed my hand, and tried to figure out what was bothering me. She was so compassionate and just held me. She even cried with me. She was there for me, just like she said she would be. How do I find the words to thank such a special person? It's nearly impossible because there aren't enough words to describe the extent of my gratitude to her and for her. Her presence during my ICU stay gave me the willpower to fight, as well as, the courage to do so. I hope when reading this, Tina is able to understand that all of her seemingly small acts of kindness, add up to make a tremendous difference in her patients' lives and especially in my life.