I had a major back surgery in 2021 at Forbes Hospital. One of my nurses was Melanie Pozzuto. I only heard her referred to as Mel. I was in a lot of pain; my stay was 5 days. One of my nurses stood out as the most compassionate, and most skilled. After discharge I left the hospital thinking about her most of all, and the care I received when I was most scared of how I was going to pull through such a painful experience. The nurse's rotation only allowed our paths to cross for 2 days. For those 2 days, she made me feel confident in my recovery and more relaxed about my stay in a hospital that I was unfamiliar with. When the PT people came, I asked about her, sharing compliments with them about her excellent nursing skills. I had forgotten her name and they said, "That's Mel". I asked about her and received all good compliments from them. I intended to share my thanks and compliment her but with the nurse's schedule, I did not see her again. So many times I reflected on my stay, and she is the one, the only thing about my surgery experience at Forbes that I remembered. All the months and days later, that I thought was exceptionally positive.

Fast forward to 2023, and I am a patient again. In the hospital for pain management as I am having great pain and complications with my surgical back. I do not have her as my nurse for either of these 2 days. But I hear her voice down the hall, this time I can ask her name and pay her the positive compliments that are long overdue. Melanie Pozzuto is a most outstanding stellar nurse and deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond to keep a patient comfortable and calm any fears while in the hospital, under her care. She cares!