This letter is to bring attention to the extraordinary nursing care given to one of my patients who suffered severe emotional trauma from a second trimester miscarriage. The patient's husband requested footprints. Kim McNeil went above and beyond her normal duties to console the father and the patient with the bereavement procedures used for stillborn babies. Her compassionate care was nothing short of amazing. I commend Kim for her humanity in a world it is often lacking.
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When a baby dies, it is quite possibly the worse day that a family will ever encounter. Kimmy is always involved with helping families through this process when patients present to L&D. This case was different because it was being handled in the main OR; there was to be no interaction with L&D due to the nature of the procedure. Kimmy is one of our primary Lead nurses. She received a call from Dr. R that there was a patient in the main OR and she and her husband desperately wanted some way to have tangible memories of the baby they lost. Kimmy went into the main OR and was able to get footprints of this tiny baby.
This was very close to Christmas. Kimmy went to the empty surgery waiting room and sat with the grieving husband who was by himself. She learned their story, how much this little brother or sister was wanted and how heartbroken they all were losing the baby. Kimmy assured him that his wife was in good hands and that she was doing well in the surgery. She presented the dad with the tiny footprints that she was able to get for them. He was so thankful for this act of kindness.
If Kimmy had not been working this day, this would not have happened. She never expected any recognition for this day; just felt that she was doing the right thing.