When I got sick I wasn't just a patient. I was also a nurse, who worked in the hospital that provided me care. Though a longtime asthmatic, I was not prepared for the significant decline in my health. Each time I was brought to Good Sam Emergency, there was a very real chance I would not survive. Alicia Hulse was my nurse on many, many visits to the Emergency Department that always ended with me admitted to Critical Care. Her infectious smile and ability to reassure me was always a welcome relief to the fear I was feeling. If you have met Alicia, you know that her strength and ability to inspire are just two things that make her an extraordinary nurse. Her remarkable skills are only matched by the compassion she exudes when she delivers care. Alicia has an inordinate ability to find positivity and infect others with it. Many times, she sought me out as a patient, to provide me unique compassion to help power me through with encouragement. Her coworkers describe her as their "cheerleader" and a "ray of light" and I can say that both are true. She somehow is always running into people she knows. Watching her interact with people is kind of amazing. People are often laughing and smiling after interacting with her. She has a gift for people and I cannot think of any greater gift to have.?