I am 50 years old and was admitted to your facility in Dec 2017. I was very ill when I arrived but had no idea how severe my illness actually was. I received a visit from the doctor when he came to talk to me and my partner about my diagnosis. The way he looked at us was chilling and I knew right then that something was drastically wrong. He said, "I have bad news. You have cancer. Stage 4 adenocarcinoma. It has metastasized all throughout your body."
I may not still be alive by the time this letter is being read to this audience about my guardian angel. My hope is that I will be, but if not, I'm confident I will see my special nurse when she too gets to heaven.
Jessica, thank you for being the person you are. Never change that as you are definitely a "one in a million kind of person". You opened your arms to hold us as we were still trying to comprehend what this diagnosis actually would mean to us. You lifted my partner up off the floor when she dropped to her knees and broke down about the diagnosis. You opened your ears to listen and to hear everything we needed to talk about. You opened your heart and showed us your love and allowed us to grieve. You gave us your shoulder even though we knew you were busy and your Vocera kept going off continuously. You treated us like we were the only people in the hospital. You gave of yourself and took the time to explain everything in a way that we could understand. You made us feel special and the way that you cared for both of us was angelic, and thus the reason you are my guardian angel. The guardian angel necklace we presented to you is meant to be worn in remembrance of why you became a nurse in the first place.
The thought of death and its aftermath is such a painful and disorienting time. I understand why people (both the griever and those witnessing grief) want some kind of roadmap, a clearly defined set of steps or stages that will guarantee a successful end to the pain of grief. The truth is, grief is as individual as love: every life, every path, is unique. Humans need to be connected to each other. Jessica, you had the opportunity to be that supportive figure, you embraced it, you embraced us, and you have fulfilled your duties as a nurse in one of the most important roles in a person's life who is facing death.
It gives me a great sense of hope knowing that you will always be there and that I can count on you to listen and hear what I am expressing to you. I can count on you to care.
As I said before, I may not even be alive when this is being read, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will see you again, even if it is in heaven because you are my guardian angel.