Lauren Haygood, RN

As a foster grandmother, I did not expect to have a grandson. My husband and I had been awarded three of his siblings earlier by DCFS due to fentanyl use by the parents. The baby was born premature and was admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit due to low birth weight. Later, it was determined that he was a drug baby withdrawing from Fentanyl. The pregnancy was kept secret. I met Lauren Haygood, one of the most caring, knowledgeable, non-judgmental nurses in the NICU. She mentored me. She encouraged me and, most of all, embraced my situation in a non-judgmental way. Because of her years of experience and kind heart, I was comfortable sharing my story with her. I am a senior citizen, 71 years old, and I never ever thought I would be the foster parent to my four grandchildren. She also shared her story with me, and it was a comfort knowing that other people can have similar stories. We were released from the hospital and headed home. Lauren shared her personal phone number with me, encouraging me to call her for advice or guidance. I made a friend in the most unusual of circumstances. She taught me so much about caring for newborns. I had gotten a little rusty. In closing, she went above and beyond her duty. Being a nurse is a calling, and she definitely is a special lady.