Allanna Schultze
August 2021
Allanna
Schultze
,
RN
NICU
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Grand Rapids
,
MI
United States
Allanna was assigned to a different area this evening but that she came by during her break and held C for an hour.
These two special people really made a difference to our family during a tough time. Before going into specifics, I think it might be helpful to provide a brief background on the circumstances of our stay at the hospital. Understanding just what my family has gone through should help shed light on just what these nurses meant to us. My wife and I have struggled with fertility challenges since we got married 10 years ago. Multiple rounds of IUI and IVF over the years turned up unsuccessful until we received the wonderful news that we would have a little baby girl coming our way. We were so elated, thinking our long journey was finally over and hoping for smooth sailing the rest of the way. I took my wife to the hospital after Labor Day weekend with some strange pains. She was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia and we were told we wouldn’t be leaving the hospital without a baby. A few days later, our baby C was delivered, 8 weeks ahead of her assumed due date. The baby was delivered healthy, but not without the usual challenges that premature babies can face. All the staff was wonderful during the 10 days of inpatient care and I wish I could nominate a dozen nurses for the award. However, this is where two Spectrum Health nurses really made a difference in our lives. We met Taya shortly after our baby was moved to the NICU and we immediately knew we wanted her to watch C when she was able. She happily and gladly said she would, and we spent the next three weeks getting to know her. The entire time, it was clear there was nothing she wouldn’t do to help our baby get strong and ultimately be discharged. She was always right by our side whenever we had questions or needed help. On days when she was not assigned to C, she would still stop by, say hello and check on our baby. The last two evenings of C’s stay were particularly memorable. The last hurdle for C to be released was to take enough food over 12-hour periods on her own. Taya was unable to work with C those nights, but she still came by during her breaks to feed C and make sure she was on track to leave. Taya is a fantastic nurse and a tremendous asset to Spectrum Health. I can’t imagine going through something like this without someone as caring as her by our side.
The other nurse from the NICU we would like to nominate is Allanna. We met her during her night shift our first few days in the NICU. It didn’t take long for us to request she watch our baby when available. As hard as leaving your baby each evening in the NICU can be, knowing Allana was always there when we went home was invaluable. One night she even recognized that our baby was breathing abnormally. She notified the doctor and after some x-rays, it was determined that C had a pneumothorax and would require a chest tube to breathe easier. Thank goodness for Allanna and her quick actions. Allanna was always very thorough and explanative whenever we would call during the late hours of the night for updates. One evening we called in expecting Allanna to answer but were greeted by another nurse. The nurse gave us an update and then said that Allanna was assigned to a different area this evening but that she came by during her break and held C for an hour. I can’t put into words how much that meant to me and my wife; having a nurse care so much about our baby that she would come by during her beaks just to hold her and make sure she’s doing well.
While we met many great nurses during our lengthy stay at the hospital, Taya and Allanna went above and beyond expectations. C was originally expected to remain in the NICU for 4-6 weeks, but she was out in three weeks. I can say with confidence that the care these nurses provided was a big reason for that. They kept our family sane and comforted. They treated our baby like she was their own. They made an incredibly tough time a little easier. We are sincerely grateful for everything they did for us. Thank you, Taya and Allanna.
The other nurse from the NICU we would like to nominate is Allanna. We met her during her night shift our first few days in the NICU. It didn’t take long for us to request she watch our baby when available. As hard as leaving your baby each evening in the NICU can be, knowing Allana was always there when we went home was invaluable. One night she even recognized that our baby was breathing abnormally. She notified the doctor and after some x-rays, it was determined that C had a pneumothorax and would require a chest tube to breathe easier. Thank goodness for Allanna and her quick actions. Allanna was always very thorough and explanative whenever we would call during the late hours of the night for updates. One evening we called in expecting Allanna to answer but were greeted by another nurse. The nurse gave us an update and then said that Allanna was assigned to a different area this evening but that she came by during her break and held C for an hour. I can’t put into words how much that meant to me and my wife; having a nurse care so much about our baby that she would come by during her beaks just to hold her and make sure she’s doing well.
While we met many great nurses during our lengthy stay at the hospital, Taya and Allanna went above and beyond expectations. C was originally expected to remain in the NICU for 4-6 weeks, but she was out in three weeks. I can say with confidence that the care these nurses provided was a big reason for that. They kept our family sane and comforted. They treated our baby like she was their own. They made an incredibly tough time a little easier. We are sincerely grateful for everything they did for us. Thank you, Taya and Allanna.