Annette actually took the time to sit down and have a conversation with my wife and I. Having been recently diagnosed with cancer, I was only accustomed to the "sterile" environment I had encountered up to that point. Annette could have just done her job and got me in/out, but she chose to interact with us on another level where we felt like we had an advocate who was truly looking out for my best interests.

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Annette Swan was my nurse when I was sent to the Cancer Care Clinic for IV fluids following chemotherapy. I was not having a good go of things, and I was extremely sick. I expected a nurse to hook up the IV, leave, and then show back up when it was done. Annette was my nurse and was the sweetest, most caring person we had encountered to that point at BJC. Not to say all the nurses there aren't exceptional, but my wife and I fell in love with her attitude and genuine concern. It was like we had known her for years, and she took the time to find out what brought me there. She spent some time getting to know us and my condition. She had a true conversation with us, and at that point in time, I really needed that; someone to talk to me like another human being and not a patient. She was truly a bright spot when things were the darkest for me.

A couple of weeks later, I was sent back to the CCC for IV fluids as I was losing weight dramatically and was severely dehydrated. As luck would have it, as soon as I walked in, Annette was waiting for me. She has no idea how happy my wife and I were to see her. Just her presence and the glow about her made us feel better. She is a true star, and I only hope BJC recognizes what they have in Annette as an employee.