Ashley Keeping
August 2021
Ashley
Keeping
,
RN
Cardiac ICU
The Hospital for Sick Children
toronto
,
Ontario
Canada
No matter the moment, Ashley was always professional and never overstepped. She would guide and listen to what we had on our minds.
Ashley always went above and beyond for us and other patients and families. Ashley’s name sign-making for the babies made it feel a bit more like home. The dedication and time she would put into making the signs specifically for each child and the various themes she had were amazing. Ashley was on our core team as we were inpatient for the first 10.5months and then transferred for 26 days and back again for 4 months. Ashley didn’t just become a nurse to us, she became like family especially when I was away from mine to care for my son, she always would check in on my son if she wasn’t his nurse as well as myself about my well-being. Between all the medical issues my son had as well as the pandemic happening, Ashley made sure you took care of yourself so you could take care of your sick child. I am forever grateful for meeting Ashley and her knowledge and always dedicating her time to learn these babies and taking such pride in her work as well as making these kids feel not so alone. Ashley had this feeling when something was up, and she was usually right. I’ve seen it a few times with my son, no one could figure out what was causing things so she would mention something and low and behold that’s what it was. These babies are so complex, that it’s nice when you can connect with someone as well as our family did with Ashley. She decorated my son’s corner, she would make crafts so I would have keepsakes, as this isn’t an ordinary life for a baby being in hospital for their first year of life never stepping foot outside of hospital walls. We witnessed a lot together with my son and sometimes it was hard not knowing if he was coming back and other times he was making firsts moments. No matter the moment, Ashley was always professional and never overstepped. She would guide and listen to what we had on our minds and suggest certain things or get the right person to come for us to talk to. Ashley helped make our long stay feel like we had family around and that yes it was a hospital with all the machines but tried to make it feel like home with lots of help around.