Zuzi was my pre-op nurse as I prepared for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. It was my first surgery and one that was expected to last 5 1/2 hours. I had felt ready for the surgery, but as we started to go through all the preparations for it, I began to feel very overwhelmed. I kept trying to hold things together, but Zuzi noticed that I had started feeling anxious. She immediately paused going through the medical procedures, took my hand and said, "Just let it out."

Zuzi took the time to tell me that it is ok to be scared, that I have a fantastic surgeon, and that it is going to be ok. That helped me allow my emotions to be what they were and to put trust in her and the rest of the team of people supporting my surgery. She was truly outstanding in that she always paid attention and adopted to how I was reacting to things.

There were a few times when I started to feel anxious again, such as when I had a chance to briefly see a family member and it brought out more emotions. Each time, Zuzi seamlessly transitioned from medical procedures to giving me space to feel what I was feeling and offering support and encouragement. Zuzi was also fantastic at carrying out each part of the medical process of preparing me for surgery, from setting up the IV and giving me a warm blanket, to telling me what to expect. I went home truly grateful that I had such an exceptional nurse to guide me through a challenging process.