When we think of birthdays we imagine being with the people who mean the most to us and celebrating how important they are and how grateful we are for the ways they have touched us and because of their presence have made our lives so special. Because of the isolation COVID has created it has changed the way we can be with each other and of course, the way we celebrate birthdays!
We recently had a patient, K, with COVID who was initially a patient on 4 West but because of his deteriorating condition, was transferred to ICU. K's wife subsequently contracted COVID and was admitted to our unit as well. K's daughter who would visit both her Dad in ICU and her Mom on 4 West mentioned to one of our nurses, Courtney Smith that her Mom's birthday was the following day. Courtney seized the opportunity to transform her mom's birthday from one of loneliness and isolation to what it should be, a joyous celebration of a family being together. Courtney told K's daughter that at exactly 3 pm she should be in ICU with her Dad and her cell phone and that Courtney would take care of everything else. Courtney went to the gift shop and got balloons and a card that everyone on 4 West signed. At exactly 3 pm the nurses opened the door to K's room, with the birthday balloons and the card, singing "Happy Birthday" while FaceTiming K's husband and daughter, so everyone could be part of the celebration. K cried! We all cried! The look on her face, seeing her husband's face was priceless, and as she said, "the best birthday present ever!"
I nominate Courtney Smith for The DAISY Award because she exemplifies the epitome of nursing excellence with her caring, compassionate attitude. Seeing Courtney holding her phone up to her patient and consoling her as she cried is a picture that I will always remember and a reminder to us all of what we can do when we chose to make a difference.