Michelle Clark took care of our daughter E for the first two days that E was in palliative care due to a brain tumor which intensive chemotherapy could not cure. I can't imagine a nurse better suited for our needs at that time as we both adjusted to our new reality and tried our best to ease E's pain from the intense pressure in her head due to the spreading tumor.
E's pressure caused her to scream in pain each time we picked her up, she was more comfortable lying down. Upon seeing this, Michelle suggested bringing in a bed to replace E's crib, so my wife or I could lie down next to E and cuddle with her. Michelle also found colorful decorative pillowcases to brighten our experience.
Over the past few nights, E has slept very well next to me, and I have slept very well too. It has been such a joy to sleep alongside my baby daughter during her last few days alive.
As the team worked on giving E new drugs and different doses to ease her pain, Michelle was able to answer all of our questions. Because the narcotics E was on made her sensitive to loud noises, Michelle made sure to enter and exit the room as quietly as a mouse, and to work just as quietly.
As for the incessant and loud beeping from the pump when an infusion of medicine is complete, Michelle must have been keeping a timer, because she was always in our room in time to turn the pump off just as the beeping began. Because hitting the call button leads to the charge nurse speaking (often loudly) on the speakerphone, Michelle gave us her extension, so we could call her directly instead of through the call button. Every time we called her, she came quickly.
Michelle was always calm, supportive to E, and affirming of our feelings. She clearly cared about E and even thanked us for letting her take care of the two days she had us. I have found that the nurses at CHOP are a cut above the rest. Despite the exceptional abilities of the nurses here, Michelle stands out from her colleagues.