Cynthia Sheridan
April 2023
Cynthia
Sheridan
,
RN
Observation Unit
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
West Bloomfield
,
MI
United States

 

 

 

She truly did everything in her power to comfort me and help me get through a hospital visit that set off all my triggers.
As a transplant recipient who has been in and out of a lot of hospitals and met many wonderful nurses, I’d like to say that Cindy is exceptional even among my wide variety of hospital experiences. She truly cares for her patients in ways that go absolutely above and beyond what the job asks for.

During my recent hospitalization after complications from a procedure, Cindy was my nurse on day shift. I should also add that I have a long history of PTSD and anxiety with panic attacks, and hospitals are a major trigger environment for me. I had multiple incidents and panic attacks in a single day this visit, and it felt like I was losing my mind in my anxiety and terror at being in the hospital. Cindy held my hand through all of them. She never wavered in being a support person for me when I was alone and scared. She provided a calming voice to help guide me through breathing exercises, listened to me when I needed to vent about what was going on, and held me the way she would a daughter when I was a shaking and crying mess at the thought of being in the hospital another day. She helped arrange for me to have a shower and go sit in the sunlight for a while, making the time for me in what I can only imagine was a packed schedule given every bed in the unit was occupied.

She truly did everything in her power to comfort me and help me get through a hospital visit that set off all my triggers. I’m not a fun person to be around when I’m scared and anxious, but Cindy harbored no judgment toward me, only kindness and acceptance. She is truly a remarkable nurse and human being with an immense wealth of empathy and support for her patients. Even the difficult ones sobbing in the hallway because they can’t see the sun. I truly hope that you recognize just how great she is at her job and pass along my deepest thanks for her being there for me when I needed somebody to lean on. Sing it!