My initial experience with Shanek is actually with my first roommate. Shortly after I moved in, she told me how wonderful our nurse was. She said Shanek was super nice, very caring, and took initiative to help her out of a bad situation. Her first roommate wasn't in very good shape, yelling in pain. When Shanek walked in and witnessed this, she immediately recognized the roommate's predicament and went on a mission to fix it.

Things were uneventful for me until the 2nd day. My roommate had been discharged and my husband had left so I was alone when my 2nd heart episode started. It came on so much stronger than before. I was caught off guard on what to do so I pushed the nurse call button two times, one right after another. Shanek came fast. I was crying then and remember telling her it was happening again. Without hesitation, she spun around and came back with nitroglycerin tablets that she put under my tongue. I remember it starting to dissolve as I was saying my prayers in my mind. I'm not sure what all she went through in those next few moments but I'm so thankful she was by my side and knew what to do. I had gone into cardiac arrest and Shanek saved my life. When I came back around, she was leaning over and telling me she had to give me CPR and said "not to ever do that again". Shanek stayed with me for a good part of the way as they took me to the ICU and there was a lot of strength in her being there for me. I thought of her while they were prepping me to have the stents and while I was recovering in the ICU. In the morning when they were talking about taking me back to the cardiac floor. I had asked if there was any chance that I could have Shanek as my nurse again. Unfortunately, her load was full. Once I got moved back up to the cardiac floor Shanek came to see me and guess what - she was my nurse again. Life was good.

Shanek, I can't thank you enough for being there for me, you truly did save more hearts than mine. Thank you, St. Luke’s for embracing this program to recognize Extraordinary Nurses like Shanek. The whole nursing staff at St. Luke's was so amazing. Over the course of my recovery, I couldn't believe how many amazing people there played a key role in me making it through all this. As I'm recovering now at home and learning my new normal, I've been taking some time to process what all happened to me, the people that were part of my care at St. Luke's are in my thoughts every day. It was such an amazing experience at such a scary time. I will forever be extremely grateful, and I wish you could all know how very special and dear you are to me. If it is possible to be imprinted on for life when a person is over the age of 50, you all did it. Thank you for touching my life, I love you all so much.