My daughter came to Denver Health with a tibia fracture caused by a skiing accident. We were taken to the Pediatric ICU on Monday evening with surgery scheduled for Tuesday morning. Jen was one of the first people we encountered. Within an hour on the unit, the stronger pain medication, given at the ski resort ER and during transport, wore off, and my daughter’s true condition became apparent. Between 8 pm and 3 am, doctors struggled to find the right dosage and combination of medication to make her comfortable. She was truly screaming and crying in agony for hours. Jen made it possible for my family to make it through that terrible night. It was obvious that she cared, and at a certain point, she was familiar with the pattern of my daughter's pain. Every move she made was thoughtful and calculated while she very obviously was moving quickly to care for her medically. I knew that Jen was advocating for my child. At the same time, Jen provided support for our family emotionally. She was professional, but relatable, and so helpful. She absolutely earned the trust of the entire family, most importantly, that of my daughter who was inconsolable. With Jen’s support, the correct medications and dosages were discovered, and my daughter was able to sleep for a few hours before surgery.

I should be clear when I say that everyone at Denver Health was absolutely wonderful and the ultimate outcome to this point is positive. Her ortho team communicated well and put my child back together. PT helped us immensely, and patiently, I should add. Everyone at Denver Health made us feel like we were in the right place. But, 20 years from now, my daughter will remember Jen for getting her through the worst night of her life. Her dad and I will remember Jen fondly for making us confident that we would get through that experience. 

We were so grateful and relieved to have Jen as our nurse on the second night of our daughter's stay on the Pediatric ICU floor. She felt at ease to see Jen again. She made us feel like a true priority, and I feel strongly that Jen does the same for every child and parent she encounters. She is exceptional.