Recently I noticed a piece in the newspaper naming this week in May as Nurse's Week. Whenever I realize it is a special time or day to recognize a group or an individual, I give some thought to what I know about them.

Previous to this year, I have known a few nurses as friends, and I have really enjoyed working with our Public Health Nurses in conjunction with my job within School District No. 5.

My personal circumstances changed dramatically last December, and since that time, I have learned much more about nurses. Prior to December, my only experience of being a patient in a hospital was when I was born. All that changed when I needed a variety of medical procedures and surgeries, some scheduled and some of an emergent nature.

I have been very fortunate, in that I have received excellent care by my own doctor, specialists, surgeons, paramedics, ambulance drivers, pilots, just about every health care professional I can think of has contributed to my care in the past few months. I can't say enough about how well I have been treated and the benefits I have received from our health care system in general, in these past few months. Not to detract from any of the aforementioned, but I concentrate here, for Nurse's Week, on my nurses.

The group who have been with me the longest and who have taken care of my day to day needs consistently have been the nurses. Both here, at Cranbrook Hospital, and at Foothill's Hospital in Calgary I have been looked after by a huge variety of RNs, RNBNs, LPNs, Nursing Assistants, Specialty Nurses, Nursing Students and Home Care Nurses.

I learned how it feels to be nursed by the very best of the best in all cases. I was amazed at how hard these nurses work, how tirelessly, how knowledgeable, kind and compassionate they are. Nurses have helped me take first steps, held my hand, sat with me through scary nights, laughed and talked me through pain among countless other tasks they have performed for me over and over again. I have been helpless and needy in ways I never believed I would find myself, yet there was always a nurse or nurses, willing and able to assist me while also always making sure my dignity was intact.

The nurses from Interior Health, Home Care Nursing in Kimberley, have come to my home, for a long time on a daily basis, in order to ensure my comfort, health and ablity to recuperate at home, instead of in the hospital. Before embarking on this personal health journey, I had no idea a service like this even existed. How lucky for me that it does.

I have a real appreciation for nurses, much more than the general idea I used to have about what they do. I am thankful for the dedicated and loving care I received and still receive from so many members of the profession of nursing.

I am grateful to all British Columbians, and Canadians, for the system that has taken such excellent care of me, and I just hope we can maintain a situation where anyone who is need can access the same kind of services.

To all nurses practicing out there, Happy Nurse's Week. Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done, and know you are appreciated.

Sharon Trefry

Wycliffe