It was recommended to me at JSUMC that, if I was capable of going to acute rehab, I should try to come to JRI! Through a series of unfortunate and unexpectedly weird events, I wound up needing spinal surgery on C4, C5, and C6. I am a 67-year-old active woman who hikes weekly, does yoga with weights weekly, plays pickleball, and walks 8-15 miles a week. In a matter of days, how did I go from being so active to struggling to walk with a walker? I entered JRI, post-surgery, unable to wobble more than about eight steps with a walker, and I needed both extensive PT and OT. Before the surgery, I was scared to death as my hands were feeling intense pins and needles, and I was pins and needles from my breastbone to my toes. I had no strength left in my legs or arms. I could no longer walk or use my arms. I spent 11 days in the hospital, and thankfully, it was determined that JRI would be a good fit for my inpatient rehab, but I was anxious and scared. I checked in on Sunday. I met my nurse, Roseanne, and she made me smile. One of my favorite aunts, who passed from Covid, had the same name. Nurse Roseanne had the same salt-and-pepper, short, curly hair. I called my aunt, “Auntie RoRo”, and Roseanne had a similar story! I took her presence, at this critical time in my life, as a positive sign. My first therapy sessions were on Monday. This was five days after surgery. The sessions were so hard. There was so much I could not do at all. I went back to my room in tears. On top of that, the mattress on my bed was making my lower back hurt terribly-and that part of my body was not affected by the surgery. It hurt so much, I could not do much of what I needed to do in physical therapy. I was in my wheelchair, miserable, crying, and afraid to take the narcotic painkiller prescribed for me. I was beside myself, in walks Nurse Roseanne. She came right over and hugged me and cried with me as she heard my fears. She immediately calmed me, and then she sat with me and explained in detail how the various medicines that I was taking worked. She told me that at the early stage of my recovery, I needed to take the prescribed medications so that my pain did not prohibit me from getting better. As I improved and strengthened, I could then slowly wean myself off the meds that concerned me because they were prescribed “as needed.” I never realized that part of a nurse’s job is to educate patients. I took the meds, and every hour or so, Roseanne checked on me. My “10” pain level diminished, and my determination and positive spirit returned. On top of that, it was suggested by the NP, in my case, that a recliner be moved to my room. Nurse Roseanne helped to facilitate that move quickly, and that chair became the place I returned to daily when my back could not take the mattress on the bed any longer. Nurse Roseanne was my angel! I am not sure what I would have done without her support. Nurse Roseanne was then off for a few days, so daily, I repeated her words to myself. I understood the pain level scale. I did get stronger, and I was able to learn and regulate myself when I needed to vary meds. I was released four days early, and when I went to my first ortho visit three days later, my progress was deemed “remarkable.” On the day she returned from her time away, she was working at a different location, but she found her way back to my room again to check on me. When she learned I was leaving earlier than predicted, she found me again to provide me a warm hug and her positive and caring words. Just over four weeks ago, I felt hopeless and worried that my retired life, as I had arranged it and was enjoying it, was a thing of my past. I never saw this situation coming. Now, I am looking at diving into enjoying my fun life once again (slowly). I am so happy. Without my Angel, Nurse Roseanne, I am not sure if I would have progressed as well. A simple thank you to Roseanne did not seem enough!