Kim Pacheco, RN

I welcomed my beautiful daughter, C, into the world, a day I will never forget for so many reasons. Not only was it the day she was born, but it was also my birthday. It should have been one of the happiest days of my life, but it also became one of the scariest. After an emergency C-section, I experienced serious complications. While I was fighting to recover, C was taken to the NICU. My husband and family stayed by my side, and I remained in the hospital for seven days. One of the hardest parts of my recovery was not being able to see my daughter for the first 24 hours of her life. The emotions were overwhelming. C spent 11 days in the NICU. We live 45 minutes from the hospital, and we were incredibly grateful to receive three nights at a nearby hotel so we could stay close to her. Even then, I rarely wanted to leave.

Then we met Nurse Kim; she cared for C with such tenderness and genuine love that it felt as though she wasn't simply doing her job; she was caring for our daughter as if she were her own. She placed the sweetest little pumpkin hat on C’s head and made a handmade sign for her bedside. Every time we visited, something new made us smile. One of the greatest gifts Kim gave us was reassurance. Through the AngelEye camera, whenever we checked on C, we would often find a handwritten note waiting for us that shared how much she had eaten and how she was doing. Those simple notes meant more than words can express. They eased my anxiety and reminded me that someone was watching over our daughter with incredible compassion.

The only feedings I ever felt comfortable missing were the ones when Kim was caring for C. That was how deeply I trusted her. For the first time since giving birth, I was finally able to rest, knowing my daughter was in the best hands possible.

One day, we unexpectedly arrived during one of Kim's shifts and found her gently snuggling C. Seeing that brought tears to my eyes. Physical touch, comfort, and love are so important for NICU babies, and witnessing that moment reminded us that our daughter wasn't just receiving excellent medical care.

We are so grateful for every member of the hospital staff; however, Kim's extraordinary compassion left a lasting impression on our hearts.

Please help us recognize Kim for the incredible nurse and person she is. We will never forget the love she showed our daughter or the peace she gave our family when we needed it most. Because of her, our memories of an incredibly difficult time are also filled with hope, gratitude, and the reminder that extraordinary kindness still exists.