I was admitted to the MSICU following a surgical complication. I was between life and death, on a respirator, and fighting for my life. I was mostly unconscious, even though I was able to hear a few things on and off, and so, I was very scared. I did not know where I was exactly or who all the people around me were.

For days, I felt like I was in danger and that I could not trust the environment I was in, until I heard a voice speaking to me that said, "Hi, my name is Colleen, I am your nurse. Don't worry, we've got you." This sentence made it to my brain and calmed me down. I could not see Colleen, nor did I hear her voice again, but that was all it took to help me relax and trust the environment I was in.

Weeks after, when I became awake and alert, I asked my husband about Colleen. He was surprised that I knew her, even though I was unconscious. He then proceeded to tell me how compassionate and excellent she was while caring for me. She was the first person to brush and braid my hair while I was unconscious. She kept my husband aware of what to expect and helped him navigate the challenge he found himself in. She would pass by and check in even if I was not assigned to her.

As I continued to recover in the ICU in a small room with no windows, Colleen noticed that I was getting very anxious and that my emotional and psychological well-being were very impacted. She then advocated for me to be relocated to a room with windows to help ease my anxiety. Something as small as having the ability to look outside, see the sun, the trees, the light, makes a whole lot of difference.

Colleen continued to check on me as I eventually moved to other floors throughout my recovery. She always came in with a big smile and shared some nice stories that would help change my mood. "Hi, my name is Colleen; I am your nurse; don't worry, we've got you" is a sentence I will never forget.