July 2026 Honoree
Katie Reinhart, RN
I would like to nominate Katie Reinhart for the incredible compassion, comfort, and care she gave me during one of the most overwhelming and life-changing days of my life.
What started as a regular appointment quickly turned into something completely unexpected. I had to have my baby early.
I already knew I would need a C-section because my baby was breech, but nothing could have prepared me emotionally for that moment. I felt every emotion possible all at once — scared, excited, nervous, overwhelmed. Every frightening thing I had ever seen or heard online about C-sections and preeclampsia started racing through my mind. I was shaking, trying to hold it together, and felt physically sick from fear.
The second I walked into my hospital room, it felt like chaos. Nurses were everywhere with blood draws, blood pressure cuffs, wipes, gowns, monitors, and questions. It was incredibly overwhelming. In the middle of all of that, Katie was the very first person to greet me. I still remember her writing “birthday party” on the board, and somehow, in such a scary moment, it made my day a little brighter and made me smile.
As I was being prepped for surgery, my fear only got worse. My husband had to wait outside the OR for about ten minutes before he could come in, and those ten minutes felt like a lifetime to me. But Katie stayed right there beside me the entire time. She held my hands, helped keep me still, comforted me, and talked me through every moment. She told me everything I needed to hear and reassured me over and over that I was going to be okay.
She made sure my birth plan was followed as closely as possible and advocated for the things that mattered to me. She brought such warmth and calmness into that operating room. By the time my husband came in, I realized I was looking for Katie’s reassurance just as much as his because she had become such a source of comfort to me.
Katie played music for me, sang along, updated me on everything happening during surgery, and stayed completely present with me through every second. Then came the moment I heard my baby cry for the first time. He had the most perfect cry, and in that instant, nothing else existed except love.
Katie took our phones and captured thousands of photos and memories for us. She never left my side through the surgery, recovery, or the transition to our hospital room. The kindness, patience, and compassion she showed me went far beyond what she “had” to do. She made me feel safe during one of the scariest moments of my life, and I will never forget her for that.
Katie is truly the kind of nurse every patient hopes to have beside them during their most vulnerable moments.
What started as a regular appointment quickly turned into something completely unexpected. I had to have my baby early.
I already knew I would need a C-section because my baby was breech, but nothing could have prepared me emotionally for that moment. I felt every emotion possible all at once — scared, excited, nervous, overwhelmed. Every frightening thing I had ever seen or heard online about C-sections and preeclampsia started racing through my mind. I was shaking, trying to hold it together, and felt physically sick from fear.
The second I walked into my hospital room, it felt like chaos. Nurses were everywhere with blood draws, blood pressure cuffs, wipes, gowns, monitors, and questions. It was incredibly overwhelming. In the middle of all of that, Katie was the very first person to greet me. I still remember her writing “birthday party” on the board, and somehow, in such a scary moment, it made my day a little brighter and made me smile.
As I was being prepped for surgery, my fear only got worse. My husband had to wait outside the OR for about ten minutes before he could come in, and those ten minutes felt like a lifetime to me. But Katie stayed right there beside me the entire time. She held my hands, helped keep me still, comforted me, and talked me through every moment. She told me everything I needed to hear and reassured me over and over that I was going to be okay.
She made sure my birth plan was followed as closely as possible and advocated for the things that mattered to me. She brought such warmth and calmness into that operating room. By the time my husband came in, I realized I was looking for Katie’s reassurance just as much as his because she had become such a source of comfort to me.
Katie played music for me, sang along, updated me on everything happening during surgery, and stayed completely present with me through every second. Then came the moment I heard my baby cry for the first time. He had the most perfect cry, and in that instant, nothing else existed except love.
Katie took our phones and captured thousands of photos and memories for us. She never left my side through the surgery, recovery, or the transition to our hospital room. The kindness, patience, and compassion she showed me went far beyond what she “had” to do. She made me feel safe during one of the scariest moments of my life, and I will never forget her for that.
Katie is truly the kind of nurse every patient hopes to have beside them during their most vulnerable moments.
Thank you, Katie, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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