Gina Campo
June 2021
Gina
Campo
,
MSN, RN, TNS
Emergency Department
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood
,
IL
United States
Gina offered to stay with the baby and encouraged the parents to go home and check on their two-year-old son that was also at daycare that day.
Monday was wrapping up like many other days. Gina Campo was in a meeting when she received a page of an 11-month-old full arrest that would probably be arriving in our Emergency Department. Gina knew the staff would need her support and quickly returned to the ED to assist in any way she could. The ED staff was making every attempt to resuscitate the baby.
Unfortunately, after their efforts failed, Gina offered emotional support to her colleagues and friends. She awaited the parents to arrive to the ED and remained with the infant preparing the baby girl for her parents to say goodbye. Gina held back her own personal emotions as much as she could. She called her own children to make sure everything was ok at home. She encouraged and counseled other members of the team to do the same and they did. She remained with the baby as she knew she would not want the baby left alone.
The parents arrived to find Gina with their child. Gina offered condolences with the empathy of a mother and the professionalism of a nurse. It was with heavy heart and tears that she bonded with both the parents. She remained with them as they mourned the death of their baby. She supported them in their absolute worst moment. She was not a spectator of this tragic event but an active participant. They shared stories of their two-year-old son with Gina and Gina shared personal stories about her children with them. In those hours a bond of complete strangers formed that will never be forgotten.
When the Medical Examiner arrived, the parents knew they would not want to be present for the exam but they also knew they did not want their baby left alone. Gina offered to stay with the baby and encouraged the parents to go home and check on their two-year-old son that was also at daycare that day. They entrusted Gina with their daughter and went home. Gina never left the baby alone. She stayed through the exam and then cradled the baby until the parents returned. Gina remained with the parents to say goodbye to their daughter. They exchanged phone numbers and Gina offered continual support even after they left. Gina's shift should have ended at 3 pm but stayed over six extra hours after her shift to support staff and later help the parents through what will probably be the biggest loss they ever sustain. Gina was more than a nurse, more than a mother, more than a friend to her colleagues and to the parents. She was an angel to the baby girl and her family.
Unfortunately, after their efforts failed, Gina offered emotional support to her colleagues and friends. She awaited the parents to arrive to the ED and remained with the infant preparing the baby girl for her parents to say goodbye. Gina held back her own personal emotions as much as she could. She called her own children to make sure everything was ok at home. She encouraged and counseled other members of the team to do the same and they did. She remained with the baby as she knew she would not want the baby left alone.
The parents arrived to find Gina with their child. Gina offered condolences with the empathy of a mother and the professionalism of a nurse. It was with heavy heart and tears that she bonded with both the parents. She remained with them as they mourned the death of their baby. She supported them in their absolute worst moment. She was not a spectator of this tragic event but an active participant. They shared stories of their two-year-old son with Gina and Gina shared personal stories about her children with them. In those hours a bond of complete strangers formed that will never be forgotten.
When the Medical Examiner arrived, the parents knew they would not want to be present for the exam but they also knew they did not want their baby left alone. Gina offered to stay with the baby and encouraged the parents to go home and check on their two-year-old son that was also at daycare that day. They entrusted Gina with their daughter and went home. Gina never left the baby alone. She stayed through the exam and then cradled the baby until the parents returned. Gina remained with the parents to say goodbye to their daughter. They exchanged phone numbers and Gina offered continual support even after they left. Gina's shift should have ended at 3 pm but stayed over six extra hours after her shift to support staff and later help the parents through what will probably be the biggest loss they ever sustain. Gina was more than a nurse, more than a mother, more than a friend to her colleagues and to the parents. She was an angel to the baby girl and her family.