September 2025 Honoree
Katherine Sedlack, BSN, RN, CCRN
I am writing— 1.5 years later—to thank you for the incredible care you provided me during my first few days in the MICU after the birth of my first child. As a fellow nurse practitioner, it was very difficult for me to suddenly “be the patient,” and meeting you at that moment felt almost meant to be.
I had just been separated from my newborn after a healthy pregnancy and a planned cesarean section that became complicated by acute kidney failure, and I was terrified and vulnerable. To awaken in the MICU and have you there, just returning from your own maternity leave, was an extraordinary intersection of lives. I will never forget the way you greeted me so warmly, noticed how unwell I was, and recognized the devastation of being apart from my baby.
When you looked at me and said, “This is not normal,” those words were profoundly validating. Even though I knew something was terribly wrong, I needed someone to speak it aloud and acknowledge my experience. That moment still stays with me. You also made it a priority to get me a breast pump and patiently taught me how to use it. At the time, that was my only connection to my son, and it meant the world to me.
I believe you also worked alongside the physician to find a way for my baby and me to reconnect during my MICU stay—a gift I will never forget. Looking back, your kindness, attentiveness, and advocacy stood out as a rare light in a frightening and disorienting time. You made me feel safe, secure, and cared for at a moment when I felt completely powerless.
The way you approached me and my situation was not only deeply human but also an exemplary model of trauma-informed care—offering validation, fostering safety, and empowering me with small but meaningful ways to stay connected to my baby. I am deeply grateful, both as a patient and as a nurse who understands what it takes to provide such compassionate, high-quality care. T
hank you, truly, for being there. You are an extraordinary nurse, and I will always remember the impact you had on my healing.
I had just been separated from my newborn after a healthy pregnancy and a planned cesarean section that became complicated by acute kidney failure, and I was terrified and vulnerable. To awaken in the MICU and have you there, just returning from your own maternity leave, was an extraordinary intersection of lives. I will never forget the way you greeted me so warmly, noticed how unwell I was, and recognized the devastation of being apart from my baby.
When you looked at me and said, “This is not normal,” those words were profoundly validating. Even though I knew something was terribly wrong, I needed someone to speak it aloud and acknowledge my experience. That moment still stays with me. You also made it a priority to get me a breast pump and patiently taught me how to use it. At the time, that was my only connection to my son, and it meant the world to me.
I believe you also worked alongside the physician to find a way for my baby and me to reconnect during my MICU stay—a gift I will never forget. Looking back, your kindness, attentiveness, and advocacy stood out as a rare light in a frightening and disorienting time. You made me feel safe, secure, and cared for at a moment when I felt completely powerless.
The way you approached me and my situation was not only deeply human but also an exemplary model of trauma-informed care—offering validation, fostering safety, and empowering me with small but meaningful ways to stay connected to my baby. I am deeply grateful, both as a patient and as a nurse who understands what it takes to provide such compassionate, high-quality care. T
hank you, truly, for being there. You are an extraordinary nurse, and I will always remember the impact you had on my healing.
Thank you, Katherine, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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