Michelle was so awesome on the day of our son's surgery! He had been in the NICU, and Michelle had been on our Parent Request List because since the first day she took care of our son she always gave him special and detailed care. So, when he was due for surgery, our primary care nurse was not on shift, but when we heard our nurse was going to be Michelle, we were relieved.

On that day, Michelle did not stop. She was on her feet all day but not once did her care for our son slip nor did her care and interactions with us change. She was always calm and helpful in explaining every step of the process, which helped keep us calm. She still took the time to hold up our son in the crib and talk to him. Now, even though there was much to do to prep our son that day, she still suggested a bath for him. So she helped us scrub him up so he'd be relaxed for the surgery and clean after.

Now, our son was in a crib but had to be transported in an isolette to the O.R., so Michelle had to prepare the isolette and get it ready. This included maneuvering the crib and the big isolette around the room dodging the big lounge chair, where I was holding our son. She had to crouch down and stretch in between the machine and the wall and the other furniture in order to untangle cords. She had to step over cords and our son's IV in order to get the isolette plugged in. When they took our son away I knew he was safe since Michelle was going down to the O.R. with the surgical team.

When the surgery was done and we saw our son being pushed back into the room and saw Michelle's smiling face, again, we were relieved. She told us that while down in the O.R. she kept cheering for him and "willing" for him to breathe so he wouldn't have to be intubated. And he wasn't!

We always knew Michelle cared for the babies in the NICU but on that day it was evident she especially cared for our son. We were so grateful for her professionalism and compassion.