If you know me or my family, you know that we have waded through a multitude of medical issues. Because of this, we have experience with Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, The Univeristy of Cincinnati Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and more.

Some of those hospitals, I was the patient. Other times, I was not.

About a year ago, I began to deal with some very serious symptoms of a condition that no one could figure out. I went to doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist, hoping someone would figure out what was wrong.

Eventually, I took to just going to symptom checkers and trying to find something that made some sort of sense. This led me to the reputable site for the Mayo Clinic. While I was entering my symptoms, I noticed a button underneath everything that merely said, "Request an appointment". I couldn't resist the urge, so I clicked it.

Magically, it was like a beacon of light was shining since the first time I got sick. There was a Mayo Clinic campus only an hour and a half away from Daytona Beach! It was absolutely wonderful.

I entered all of my necessary information and received an automated reply that I would be contacted by them within three business days.

It didn't take that long. It took one day.

By the next day, I was sending in my insurance information. The day after that, I was receiving a phone call. I was almost sure it was going to be a phone call where I was being told that I wouldn't be able to get in to see anyone, or that the clinic didn't take my insurance. To my wonderful surprise, it was a receptionist asking to get more information about what issues I was dealing with.

Then came the part I was so scared of: "So, when can you come and see us?"

Of course, I said as soon as possible. I knew this probably wasn't going to be possible, but I might as well give it a go.

"Is next Wednesday okay? 7 am?"

Needless to say, I took it. I woke up and left my dorm that morning feeling a combination of dread, anxiety, hope, and caution.

However, I had the best experience ever in any medical institution I have set foot in. I cannot say properly how absolutely amazing this hospital is.

Every single person I met that day - from the custodians, to the receptionists, to the nurses, to the doctors I was seeing - they were all smiling, happy, cheerful, and more than willing to help you with anything you needed.

The people running the tests were prompt, warm, answered any and all questions I had, and made the process easy.

Every appointment I needed to have within the next month and a half was scheduled before I left the hosipital that day. Not only that, but the itinerary I was given for my appointments that day were both accurate and precise to a tee.

You see, for a 19-year-old girl to be in a hospital she doesn't know, in a town she doesn't know, alone, going through test after test to try and figure out why she can't walk without pain - the entire process can be frightening.

Before the first test of the day, when my boyfriend let me know he had to go back to classes, I broke down standing in line waiting to check in. I was scared, nervous, and alone more than anything. I understood why he had to go back, but that didn't make it easy!

By the time my first test was done, I didn't feel alone, though. I felt cared for, treated with the utmost respect, and I knew I was in amazing hands.

So here's a giant thank you to the Mayo Clinic. One that is most definitely deserved.

Thank you for making this process easier rather than harder.

Thank you for allowing a scared, young grl to feel comforted rather than alone.

Thank you for taking the time to be one of the only medical institutions to treat every symptom - no matter how small or seemingly minute - as something serious to ensure that I got the adequate treatment I needed.

Thank you for making my parents, who are about 800 miles away, feel secure knowing that their daughter was in the best hands possisble.

Thank you.

When you hear the reputation the Mayo Clinic has, know that it is one that is justly deserved. The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is the shining example of how a hospital should be run.