My daughter had to have cardiothoracic surgery for achalasia, which is not something normal for a 17-year-old. From the moment this nurse came to get us from the waiting room, there was comfort with her. She explained everything to my daughter and me. She spoke directly to my daughter, not at her. This nurse looked for good veins for an IV but seeing they were so small; she didn’t want to stick her. Instead, she called IV Therapy. IV Therapy confirmed that her veins were so tiny. My daughter unfortunately had to be stuck twice. Not because the 1st was a bad stick, but it just caused so much pain as it was being flushed so another had to be started. That one was perfect! This nurse sat with my daughter the whole time the IV was being inserted.

The Anesthesia team needed to do a pre-surgery block for post-op pain. I wasn’t able to stay with my daughter, but this nurse was. She held her, comforted her, and even showed her a video of someone coming out of anesthesia to keep my daughter's mind off what was happening.

She was by her side until my daughter went into surgery. As they were wheeling my daughter back, I was overcome with emotions. This nurse stopped and gave me a HUGE hug. In that moment, she didn’t see me as another patient’s mom, she saw a mom watching her baby go off to major surgery, heartbroken. In today’s world of social distancing, she didn’t think twice, she just held me tight. It was EXACTLY what I needed in that moment, reassurance that my girl was in excellent hands.

Once surgery was over, this nurse was right there comforting my girl. She reminded me of my mom as she comforted her. The soft soothing voice of this nurse kept reassuring my daughter she was doing amazing. Stating that “She is so strong, and she will get through this”. If my daughter started to fuss, this nurse was there for a comforting hug, hand rub, or just a reassuring “You’re ok, A”. Before coming to her room, this nurse made sure my daughter wasn’t going to feel uncomfortable with a male nurse caring for her since she was only 17. The entire time in recovery, this nurse didn’t leave my daughter’s side unless she was making arrangements for her aftercare on the floor. She came with us up to the floor. She hugged me again and whispered encouraging words to me that I will never forget. When this nurse left, she said she would try to check in with my daughter. She did! At the end of her shift, she went to check on my daughter.

The next day my daughter didn’t remember much of the previous day, but she remembered this nurse. She remembered her hugs and that she visited her! My daughter continues to say this nurse is “so amazing, I love her!”. I am so grateful for the EXCELLENT care my daughter received and I cannot thank this nurse enough for the love and compassion she showed us during this stressful time.