Kay Siemon is truly deserving of the DAISY Award. My son was admitted into TNICU following a severe reaction to alcohol withdrawal. I was overwhelmed with grief when I arrived to find my child on a vent, tubes and IVs coming out of him and in restraints, unable to move. Kay saw my reaction and immediately began to comfort and reassure me that he was in good hands and receiving the best treatment for his condition. Kay explained the purpose of each and every drug being administered and what it would do to help in his treatment. She explained to me why he had been put into restraints and the conditions he had to meet before they could be removed. I arrived in shock and left knowing he was in good hands.

For the next seven days, either I or another family member sat by his bedside to reassure him he would be okay. Even though he was in a drug-induced coma, Kay would talk to him and explain where he was. She would tell my son, me, or my family member what she would be doing to him and why it needed to be done. Every alarm that went off had an explanation. Every med or new med administered had a reason for being dispensed.

I work at North Memorial. When the doctors made rounds, Kay would give me a call so I could make it to my son’s bedside to be included in what course of action or new course of action was being implemented for his care. Seven days later, due to a shortage of beds on TNICU, my son was moved. Kay continued to check in on him to see how his progress was coming along, or my family member and I would make our way to TNICU to see if Kay was working and report to her his continued progress. It was like we had become family.

My son left North Memorial on July 21, 2011. My son, I, and my family member made our last trip to TUNICU to say our goodbyes to Kay and the staff. With tears in our eyes, we hugged and thanked her for all of her love, caring and support she displayed to us to help us make it through this most difficult time in our life and Kay’s help in my son finding his way back to us.