April 2012
Jeanette
Carter
,
RN
PICU
Kosair Children's Hospital
Louisville
,
KY
United States

 

 

 

Our healthy and happy four year old son went into sudden cardiac arrest. Our world changed forever in a few moments. During our first hours at KCH he continued to code several times. I was terrified. I remember that for the first day or so, he lay flat on his back in a crib, naked with tubes stuck everywhere. When Jeanette came on shift, she put a diaper on him and washed his face. That small gesture meant a lot to a mom. She started talking to me about her daughter's heart condition and she offered my husband and me much needed support. Jeanette cared for my son several days during the six weeks we were in the PICU. She gave him great care and become a friend to us all. When we were released for rehab, she came to visit us and even decorated a Christmas tree with ponies (my son's favorite). She still keeps in touch and sends notes and cards on occasions. She was our comfort zone!