Angels Landing

Angels Landing

Angels landing is a popular hike in Zion National Park, Utah. I am also naming the Cancer Center at Huntsman Angels Landing.

From the moment I walked into the building I was met by beautiful, caring, helpful Angels. As I fell under anesthesia I will never forget the male angel who held my hand, and with the other hand on my heart he said "We will take good care of you."  He comforted me, he made me feel safe, but more importantly, he told me the truth.

Post op as I woke up from what I assumed was a bike wreck, I was surrounded by angels who knew exactly what to do and say as I floated in and out of reality. One poor nurse was mistaken by me as a male in a ponytail. I could not figure out why he was not wearing a helmet so I continued to lecture him. Shortly later, realizing it was actually a beautiful female nurse! I embarrassingly apologized.

Later, I was brought to the 5th floor (Angels Landing) where nurse after nurse and doctor after doctor, each armed with a quiver of magic arrows to make me feel better, came in and out of my room. Beautiful, smart nurses with perfect skin and giant hearts answer my multiple questions with genuine sweetness.

 A doctor came in near midnight, on crutches, after having a climbing wall accident just to tell me she wanted to say hello since she was in the hospital (with her own torn ligaments.). She stood on her swelling ankle and chatted calmly and carefully as if she had nowhere she would rather be, even though she must have been terribly uncomfortable in her robot boot.

My male aid, Cody, spoke with me of our shared love of desert adventures and he taught me how to say hello and goodbye in Czech. My first nurse, Lindsay (awesome name) was a personal trainer before becoming a nurse. Her student, Kristin, led me on my first walk with her tiny little hand. I feared I would squish her if I fell.  My current night nurse, Camille is the sweetest, tiniest angel who doesn't blink an eye at blood or guts or urine.  And at 3am when I was woken by a tech to take blood, not only did I not feel the poke, I could not quit staring at the most incredible pair of green eyes I have seen in my life.

And the true angel of my life right now is Trey. He has been up all hours with me supporting me, loving me, communicating for me and staying by my side no matter my mood or pain. I am proud to have such a good man loving me.

My parents are two more angles but that is no surprise to me as they have always been that way.

I am truly lucky and blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful team. These care givers have dedicated their days, nights and weekends to helping cancer patients. It's 5am, I've just had a major surgery, yet if I didn't know any better (or if I had a few more shots of drugs) I wouldn't assume I was in a hospital, I would assume I had landed in heaven.