A long-time respiratory therapist and now graduate registered nurse was recently taking care of a very young patient who had been critically ill for weeks. The patient was placed on ECMO as a life-saving measure and remained on the therapy for many weeks.

She has remained in the ICU for 3 weeks (as of this date) and required a tracheostomy. Our nurse, a mother herself, arranged with our manager, the patient and family for her young son to come and visit his mom on her first day out of bed. She took great care to explain to the young child that his Mom couldn't talk to him yet but that she could hear and understand him. She encouraged and answered his questions. As he hugged his Mom goodbye she took great care to place the patient's arm around his back so that he could feel the touch of his mother and then taking him by our candy bowl so that he could take some with him, she walked the boy and his father out of the unit to which the boy replied "this is the best day ever". 

The care that our nurse took with this child was evident as he was not at all fearful of seeing and interacting with his mother. I am not sure that very many people could have and would have thought of all of these things, but as she stated, "I'm a Mom". It not only brought many tears to her eyes but to this veteran nurse as well. I have no doubt that it will leave a lasting impression on this patient and her family and will aid in the patient's recovery as well.