I worked as a phlebotomist at this hospital while I went through nursing school. At that time, I knew for a fact that I wanted to be an ER nurse. It only took one day of clinicals in the NICU with Lois to change my mind. I can remember that day as clear as ever 10 years ago just being in awe of the way Lois cared for her babies and families. Flitting around from isolette to isolette with her sticky notes for her vitals and letting me be as hands on as possible. I tell her often she is one of the reasons I found my passion for our tiny humans in the NICU.

As most of us know, mornings can be the busiest part of your day as a nurse. I lovingly call her the morning Tasmanian devil (yes she knows) because she is a whirlwind of activity as she prepares for the day. She is constantly thinking 10 steps ahead as she settles into the routine of the day. She says she’s “learning her babies” so that she can provide the best care for them and their parents. She is present and attentive to each family she cares for, it bothers her to no end if she doesn’t have to time to give her undivided attention to a family while they are at bedside for cares and feeds. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new mother holding her baby for the first time after a c-section or a feed time for a baby that’s been here for two weeks and close to discharge, she gives the same care and attentiveness to each interaction. 

It’s safe to say she has a passion for educating parents and preparing them for discharge from day one. Taking a NICU baby home is a lot different than taking home a baby that wasn’t early or sick. There is so much involved with feeding, home environment, follow up appointments, and just general care. She truly wants parents to succeed at home and feel confident they can care for their baby without a NICU nurse. I can’t even count how many times we have had a family come back for other babies and ask, “Does Lois still work here? She taught us so much!” The best validation for our work is the knowledge that we can impact someone’s life in a positive way when they are going through the stress and uncertainty of having a baby in the NICU. Not one single family puts in their birth plan to have an early or sick baby that needs NICU care. It’s our job to guide, teach, and involve parents in the care of their newborns so they can take some control back in an environment that is wrought with fear and uncertainty. Lois can do that with ease. 

I am a true believer that small things can make the biggest impact on someone’s life. Lois told me once that on the day of discharge, she makes sure that when the family is going home, there are at least 1 or 2 bottles of breast milk thawed and ready for feed when they get home. That she wants that transition to home to be as seamless and effortless as possible. And that may not seem like much, but to me, it shouts that she truly and deeply cares for her patients and families. Lois has been a nurse here for 35 years. Keeping that passion and love for the babies all these years is truly remarkable, and she is truly a DAISY Nurse.