It would be my dearest wish for Sandy Choate to receive the DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses, as she, for me and my other floor mates discussed, made each day we had with her extraordinary. To put into words the impact Sandy made on my stay here, my recovery, but most importantly the possibilities that await me in my future is hard to put into a single situation. She was like a *Mentor* to me, or my own personal cheerleader which I didn't think at the time I deserved and was unexpected.
Sandy's positivity would radiate every time we would cross paths and her enthusiasm to keep the other patients and I engaged, entertained, or enlightened when there was free time, and when we could have just retired to our rooms to watch tv, was to be admired, much appreciated, and something that can't be taught.
I found myself excited when I knew Sandy was our nurse for the day as she always had something up her sleeve as an exercise or journaling we could do that day that will inevitably become a part of my daily sobriety routine. She listened and asked questions that for some reason to me "clicked" and interactions with her meant the most and charged my outlook on sobriety the most.
Maybe it is her kind heart, her heartfelt advice, her radiant and ever approachable smile, or her soul which was meant to make an impact in others' lives, but to me, I couldn't have imagined a better nurse if I tried. Sandy's love for this job and her patients cannot be taught and is a real gift. I only wish she could be my mentor.