This nurse went way above and beyond to make my appointment happen. I have severe PTSD and Panic Disorder related to medical procedures or tests. I always advocate for hospital staff to be more aware of Mental Illness and how a little compassion can go a long way. Marissa has a true gift. She not only stuck by me the whole time I was panicking, but she also calmed me down with her positive and compassionate personality. I have never had a nurse at Nebraska Medicine like Marissa. I looked at her and asked if she could come back with me to my CT scan, and she did, letting me know she was still there throughout the whole process. I explained I have medical PTSD and what my concerns were, and she actually listened. 1. The beeping of machines triggers my PTSD, so she put the machines outside my room. 2. Being in a small space with no windows is triggering, so she asked if I wanted my curtain open. 3. Being alone when you have panic disorder is so harmful to most people with Panic Disorder, and even though Marissa was so busy, she never left my side. She made sure the other patients were taken care of, but knew I needed more of her time to just get through a simple CT scan of my heart.

As I type this with tears in my eyes, Marissa is a true gift to Nebraska Medicine. Her compassion has forever left an imprint on my heart. I finally felt heard by a medical professional about mental illness. She saw my face and my reactions to things, and instead of being bothered that I wasn’t the optimal patient, she was just the most loving and caring person I could’ve asked for. There were several times that I wanted to reschedule due to my PTSD and Panic, but Marissa kept saying, "Let’s give it 5 more minutes," and she continued to talk me through. Well, I am here to tell you that, thanks to Marissa, I completed the test on my heart. I think Nebraska Medicine is lucky to have Marissa. Thank you, Marissa, for your compassion for people with mental illness. Never felt any stigma from you at all. You are amazing. Thank you!