During my son's hospital stay, our experience could have been overwhelming without the compassionate care provided by Nurse Hannah. My son, who has a history of sickle cell disease, was admitted following a spiral tibia fracture. This incident triggered a severe sickle cell crisis compounded by the intense agony from his injury. As any mother would, I felt a wave of helplessness and concern watching him endure both fracture pain and his sickle cell crisis simultaneously. 

From the moment we arrived at the hospital, the pain was palpable. On the second day of his admission, I recall my son thrashing about in discomfort, gripped by both physical pain and a constant itch that seemed to exacerbate his distress. We felt like we were on a rollercoaster of despair, and my heart sank with every agonized expression on his face. At this moment, Nurse Hannah truly shone, rising to the occasion when we needed her most.

Hannah’s calm demeanor in the face of the crisis was deeply reassuring. Even as I pressed the call button almost every five minutes, she patiently answered each call, demonstrating a level of commitment that I can only describe as extraordinary. Throughout her shift, she consistently pulled together a comprehensive care plan, liaising with doctors and advocating for my son’s needs. She called the doctor multiple times to adjust his pain medication, all the while explaining each step to us with empathy and clarity. It was a breath of fresh air to have someone who genuinely cared about his comfort.

What stood out most was Hannah’s ability to make time seem elastic in a moment of great stress. She created a soothing atmosphere around us, often taking the time to sit down and check on my son’s comfort level and ensuring that his physical and emotional needs were met. She brought warm compresses to ease his pain, engaged him in light conversation to distract him, and offered words of encouragement that warmed our hearts. 

Nurse Hannah became a steady lighthouse of hope in what felt like a sea of uncertainty. Her dedication not only eased my son’s suffering but also brought comfort to me as a worried mom. The love and positivity she radiated made a remarkable difference in our hospital experience, reminding us of a single compassionate nurse's significant impact on a patient’s life during difficult times. Her commitment to my son's well-being and her unwavering support aided in his recovery and left a lasting imprint of kindness and hope in our hearts.

Note: This is Hannah's 2nd DAISY Award!