November 2021
Kimberlie
Izquierdo
,
BSN, RN
Pediatric ICU
NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
New York
,
NY
United States

 

 

 

I felt welcomed and at ease when I was introduced to Kim.
My 6-month-old daughter had fallen and fractured her skull. Hearing this news literally brought me to my knees. I cried like a baby. I wish it were me and not her. As a mother, I felt very guilty because she is under my care. As her mother, my job is to protect her and I failed. My husband and I were being bombarded by so many staff members in the ER about how my daughter had fallen off of the bed. We felt personally attacked. We felt that we were being treated as criminals. Staff after staff after caseworker and police officers, we were being asked too many questions.

Of course, we wanted to help and answer all of the questions, anything to help my daughter and the situation but at the end of the day, we felt guilty. We blamed ourselves. We cried all night and just prayed she will make it through. We understood that these were protocols and it is something that has to be done under NY State law. Although all of the nurses who had been working with us since the moment we had arrived had been great at their job, It was Kim in the ICU who had been especially amazing.

I felt welcomed and at ease when I was introduced to Kim. We were being treated as the patient's parents and not like criminals. She made us feel as if we were good people and good parents, not people who hurt their babies. Not only was she attentive and extremely knowledgeable, but she was also so sweet and gentle with my baby. She was friendly, smart, and paid close attention to us.

Most importantly, Kim treated us with respect. Finally, my daughter was laughing and smiling. The entire experience went from horrible and painful to something to a little less stressful. Thank you, Kim, for making this awful situation a little better. I appreciate you and all that you do, not just for my baby but for every child that comes under you win. You are doing amazing and I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you, Kim.