I was admitted and was soon diagnosed with congestive heart failure. This was completely unexpected and threw my entire world upside down. As the week went on and the severity of my situation started to hit home, I found myself falling into a very dark place. I began wondering what the point of fighting my diagnosis was and why I should even care what happened to me at that point.

I had Jessica as my nurse the day before and the day after this episode. The night in between, I spent in bed, shut off from the world around me, wallowing in that dark state of mind.

When Jessica saw me on that second day, she instinctively knew I was hurting deeply inside and, through a combination of calm, soothing empathy and a pure spirit awash in light, she managed to pull me out of my despair. Through simple acts like just listening and saying exactly the right things, she helped me more than I can express. She even took time out of her personal free time to redress an IV and simply soothe me back into a sense of hope that I could truly get through this and come out of it a better person. She became my inspiration to overcome my diagnosis, no matter what it took.

What could have been the moment I gave up instead became a resolution I don’t think I would have found otherwise. I’m grateful beyond words for having her during this time and know she will continue to do great things for others as well.