I was admitted to Rapid City Regional Hospital with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. My condition was severe, requiring surgery. The various procedures were traumatic and terrifying and I was having a hard time, crying a lot. Joan was especially kind to me, patient beyond the normal call of duty. Her kindness, compassion and encouragement went a long way to help me stabilize and cooperate with treatments I often didn't understand and/or feared. Joan's special efforts made everyone's life easier because of how she helped me be more cooperative.