As I sit here at MaineGeneral Medical Center watching the storm raging outside, I am grateful that I’m not considered “essential personnel” in any line of work. I am even more grateful for those who are — making sure that the rest of us are safe in our homes, on the roads and well cared for in our institutions.

During our two-week stay here, I have been in awe of the customer service, patient-centered care, design of the building, healing atmosphere filled with beautiful art, and healthy, delicious food. I’ve come to refer to this as the MaineGeneral Hilton.

We have felt well-cared-for by all — from the support staff and the workers in the laundry and housekeeping service who somehow found the phone I mistakenly threw in the dirty linen basket, to the administrators and the medical staff. It was not a surprise to me to hear that the staff satisfaction rating here is one of the highest in the country. And, listening to how the staff care for each other during this difficult period has made it clear that the smiles and greetings we receive every day are not just a show they put on for others.

People can’t appreciate how lucky we are to have a health care facility such as this until they need it. While I would much prefer to have spent the last two weeks on vacation in a tropical paradise, MaineGeneral has made a difficult time far more bearable than I could have conceived possible.

I am extremely grateful for all the visionaries who saw the need to create a world-class hospital, to those who worked to design, build, financially support it and those who staff the amazing facility we are so fortunate to have here in central Maine.

Karen Heck

Waterville