I have always believed that God brings people into your life for a reason, never more have I felt this to be true than when I met Melissa Spurrier last September. It was the most difficult time of my life. I had just received a phone call from Baptist Hospital that I would need to return to the hospital because my husband was having some cardiac problems and the situation was grave. Earlier in the day, my 48-year old husband had undergone a successful mitral valve repair. Upon arriving at the hospital, I would learn that he went into ventricular arrhythmias and nearly lost his life. I would also learn that Melissa was his nurse that night and her quick actions and assistance from other staff saved his life. Following CPR and repeated defibrillator shocks, my husband was rushed into emergency surgery, where a heart bypass was completed.

Seeing the state I was in and knowing that I would not leave my husband to return home, Melissa made arrangements for me to stay close to him in a guest room at the hospital. This was very helpful considering I live 30 miles away from the hospital. She spent time that night talking with me and helping me to understand what was taking place with my husband.

My husband remained in the CVR unit for 5 days, during that time Melissa was his nurse on several days. She provided much needed support, she listened when I was upset, explained things when I didn't understand, hugged me when I needed it and gave me hope when at times, I felt there was none. After 4 days on the ventilator, an attempt to remove my husband from the machine failed, his heart was not strong enough. She happened to be his nurse during this time. She took the time to talk with me and explain that she was able to wean him from his sedation enough to determine that he was responsive to his name and able to move all of his extremities. I cannot explain how this simple action on her behalf gave me hope. I had watched the love of my life lie motionless for 4 days, not knowing when or if he would wake up and if he did what condition he may be in.

The 5th day, a second attempt to remove the ventilator was scheduled. Once he was weaned enough from the sedation, Melissa allowed me to visit him briefly- she said she wanted me to see that my husband was still with us and responsive, she said she felt that I needed to see this. She could have never been more right. Just being able to feel my husband squeeze my hand and respond to my voice after 4 days of living through hell, was indescribable. Again, she gave me hope!

The 6th day, my husband was moved to the CVU and I never saw Melissa again, but I will never forget the caring, compassionate actions of this one person. All of the nurses on the unit were awesome, but Melissa went above and beyond in her care for my husband and for his family. She not only physically saved my husband's life, but in so many ways, she saved me too (emotionally). For that, my family will forever be grateful that God put Melissa in that room that night and in our lives. Because of her and her actions, my children will be able to grow up having their Daddy in their lives. Words can never express the gratitude I feel for her.