After surviving the terrifying pain and sickness of resus, I was moved to the Coronary Care Unit. I first heard Theresa's voice before I saw her. Her kind, warm, empathic voice welcomed me to Coronary Care. I immediately felt safe, and the pain and discomfort began to subside. Theresa made me and the other patients feel at ease, which in turn lifted layers of illness from our damaged bodies. I saw, in particular, how she deeply cared for the elderly. I saw how hard this nurse worked with only the speed that nurses can understand. Theresa has grace and dignity, which shone through. Her ability to lift our weary spirits, unaware that she was doing so, brought a lightness to the ward. Her infectious laugh brought us further away from the battle we had all fought, back to the normal, reassuring peace of health. At times, a certain sadness comes with illness. Theresa helped me through this by telling me about her animals, especially her two donkeys. We also talked about our mothers and this helped me enormously. One of the most memorable, thoughtful, touching gestures was the cup of tea that was brought to my bedside. I felt a bond then with this beautiful Donegal, hard-working, earnest, diligent nurse. Only nurses see the depths of despair that pain brings. They see people pass away, and they carry this. They also see patients who felt life slip away only to be brought back by nurses and doctors who go above and beyond their duties. When I have been very ill, surrounded by the chaos, it’s the simple action of holding a patient’s hand or telling them that they are going to be cared for that makes all the difference. They give a part of themselves each time they help us carry on to live and find joy in a simple sip of water, fresh air, and the beautiful foliage that surrounds us all. Many years later, I found myself on the Coronary Card ward again. Whose voice did I hear before I opened my eyes, but Theresa.