It has taken me a few weeks to write this. Once again, I have ended up on the oncology floor of the hospital. I have always had good nursing care at the hospital but the last couple of times there have been some hard moments for me. Nothing like waking up at 2 or 3 AM and having your mind take you to those dark places, causing tears, thoughts of death, and leading to stages of depression. But in pops this nurse full of joy to answer your call and check on you. She does what every other nurse would do but her joyful spirit just lights up the room, abolishes those dark thoughts, and brings joyfulness within you to the point that even when she leaves that joyful spirit remains within you.
I have had Kalee the last couple of times on the night shift. I can't imagine anyone consistently being in a "joyful" mood at 1, 2, or 3 AM, and yet she has been just that, during both of my last two stays. She has this gift to bring joy to a person's life. It can't be taught or faked or even purposely applied like a bandage, but rather something that comes from within and lights up the spirits of patients. I feel fortunate to have met her and had her as my nurse.