I wanted to take a minute to thank all the very special nurses who took such amazing care of me during my 2+ week stay in the CCU at your wonderful hospital. I remember all of you, though I am certain I have forgotten some names, and for that, I am so, so sorry.
Britt - I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you and how you went out of your way to find a bed for me that I could sleep on. It meant everything to me and was the first night of rest I got. I enjoyed and appreciated your positive attitude and smile, though always covered by your mask, I could see it in your eyes.
Mary Beth - I so appreciate you and how you made my first night here as comfortable as possible though I hurt so badly, not only in my head but seemingly everywhere! You were gentle and there always and made me feel you had no one else to take care of.
Theresa, Heather, Hassen - you all helped me find a plan and pain med schedule to manage my headaches. Your recognition and understanding of that need for me as I struggled to articulate to you all, and your genuine desire to help me do as much as was possible on my own, all the while being so respectful of me, is something I will never forget. You understood my need to be active in my care/recovery and it was invaluable to me.
Amanda - I greatly appreciate your cheerful attitude and complete empathy for what O was going through, along with your stories of other places you have worked. They were a welcome distraction in the middle of the night while I was hurting.
Brandi - your willingness to share some of your life with me, which when my head hurt so badly was so appreciated and welcomed. Your obvious desire to make me feel better in whatever way you could, whenever I was having a bad moment meant everything to me.
Sam - I appreciate so much your understanding of my desire for a shower and brainstorming to see if you could find a way to make that happen. From bringing me that shower cap thingy to trying to find any place in the hospital that you could take me to help me shower.
Bri, Gemma, Pinky, Brianna, and Brittany - you all make me smile and made me feel as if you had nothing else to do other than care for only me, though clearly this was never the case. You never let me feel as if I was putting huge demands upon you, no matter how busy you were, and I always felt that I was the most important person on earth to you all.
Hazel - I appreciate your patience through machines that would not stop beeping and your willingness to continue trying to make it stop, which it finally did, so I could sleep!
To all the other nurses and aids on the floor who maybe did not take care of me specifically but supported me and were so positive and encouraging of me while I walked the halls, you are so very special, all of you, and I will be forever grateful you came into my life.
Lastly, Dr. Kahn, you will never in a million years understand what my memories of our first conversation meant to me. You may not even remember what you said. Let me just tell you that as I tentatively asked you if this aneurism was something I was going to have to worry about for the rest of my life, you very quickly replied to me that, "It's my job to worry about this for the rest of your life. Your job is to live your life." You then told me that if I was going to worry about it to let you know because then you would not have to! While those words did not guarantee anything to me for my future because clearly, you cannot do so, they did calm me. You asked me to trust you and I decided to do so. How lucky am I? I know that your care of me continues and I feel I am the luckiest person ever. All your future patients will be incredibly lucky to get you to care for and help them.
With love, admiration, and great respect, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.