Harper P. Paparelli
March 2023
Harper P.
Paparelli
,
RN
Acute&CriticalTm, Nursing Float
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston
,
TX
United States

 

 

 

Harper is one in a million who genuinely cares for her patients.
Our 4-year-old daughter was admitted to TCH in May 2022 for MSSA Pneumonia and ARDS. She was transferred for a higher level of care including ECMO and bilateral lung transplant. Harper was one of the first-night shift nurses to take care of my daughter and immediately became one of her "Primary Nurses". She cared for her like no other. My daughter was so sick and at the time my husband and I didn't realize how sick she was. She was placed on ECMO 2 days after arriving and placed on the transplant list 2 months later. Harper developed a special bond with her. She would literally sit at her bedside some nights to keep her calm so that I could actually get a few hours of sleep. Harper was such an advocate for my daughter on many occasions. One night she was bleeding from her ECMO cannula site in her neck and I was so relieved that Harper advocated for her in this particular situation until the dressing was secured appropriately. We are so thankful that Harper has cared for her throughout her entire hospitalization, even after she switched to day shift. After her bilateral lung transplant, Harper continued to care for her. It was a whole new bond that developed between them while painting and drawing together. Harper has been with us through the good and the not-so-good times. Harper is one in a million who genuinely cares for her patients.