Karen Lemons

I would like to nominate my coworker, Karen Lemons RNIII IBCLC, for the DAISY award.  We work in the WMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit taking care of sick or premature infants.  Karen recognizes the special needs and feelings of the families of these newborns and responds with LOVE and ATTENTION!

It’s hard to imagine anything more horrible to a parent than finding out that what should have been one of the happiest events of their lives has turned into one of the most frightening.  The baby that they had anticipated for so long can’t come home with them.  It is always hard for a family when a loved one is hospitalized over the holidays and it can be especially difficult when the patient is a child and this will be their first Christmas.  Leaving the most precious new member of their family with total strangers has to be one of the most difficult things any parent will ever face.

Karen left her own family from 10pm Christmas Eve until 3:30am Christmas morning to help make Christmas special for families and their babies.  When the parents came to visit on Christmas day, they each found a handmade card with pictures of their baby (including one with Santa), a special Christmas poem, footprints, and a stocking filled with gifts.  The parents were thrilled, some moved to tears.  They felt like the nurses really cared!

I worked Christmas day, and when I saw what Karen and the others had done, I was awestruck!  The depth, intensity, and personal sacrifice Karen makes on an ongoing basis is inspiring!  She has 4 young kids of her own and never seems to tire.

Karen consistently goes way above and beyond what is required or expected.  She always manages to provide excellent acute care while incorporating a compassionate and nurturing family centered approach.  She serves on the NICU and Parent Advisory Councils, volunteered many hours for the NICU Reunion, is a lactation consultant, and volunteers to translate for our Spanish speaking families.

Not only did she make Christmas special for our families this year, but she helps to make each holiday, and every day in between special.