Tara Scarborough

Tara is amazing.  The depth of her compassion, her knowledge of nursing and medicine, and her ability to navigate the difficult paths of intimacy, family dynamics, sorrow, grief, and gratitude is without peer.  For 5-1/2 months Tara was one of the primary nurses who cared for our daughter, I humbly and sincerely ask you to seriously consider this nomination as the reason to confer on Tara Scarborough the DAISY Award.

Tara always spoke to my daughter, she would tell her all of the things she was doing and why, in spite of being heavily sedated or in a coma. When bathing, washing her hair, mouth care. or ANY care, Tara was exemplary.  She would put barrettes, headbands, or scarves and such in my daughter’s hair, making her seem like the child we knew before entering CCHMC.  Tara often asked me if I wanted to get next to my daughter in her bed; this was a very comforting thing to do.

Tara explained patiently the effects of various medicines, and helped to show me how to administer them via the g-tube, she emphasized the importance of sterile technique, paying careful attention to dosage during preparation.  When I asked about side effects or medicine combinations, Tara was always willing to answer and would sometimes print out materials for me.

On three or four different occasions, when I was overcome while looking at my child in her bed, Tara was very compassionate, encouraging me with kind words, but also letting me know that tears are nothing to be ashamed of.  She did not "sugar coat" answers to my questions.  Over her stay, my daughter lost hardly any weight and was completely free of bedsores, which is a testament to her care.

Also during her stay, my wife or I would be with our child every day, except for perhaps 2 or 3 times when we were overcome with emotion and exhaustion.  Leaving her was never easy but Tara made it far easier and far less distressing, knowing she was in such capable hands.

With any question that would arise concerning care, treatment, surgeries, procedures, medications and outlook, Tara would answer honestly and with empathy, without condescension, and spoke to us respectfully.  If she couldn't answer herself, she directed knowledgeable physicians and staff to answer our questions.

She would ask if we wanted to help in changing our daughter, turning her, and taking part in trach care, as we tried to learn in the hopes of having her at home.  Also Tara attended many of these care conferences, contributing a great deal.