Most days in an Emergency Department are difficult. Seeing people in pain, scared, sad, and now there is COVID- which does not permit patients to be with our loved ones in a health care setting. The situation puts the care providers in an almost impossible situation as they become both the care provider and the family liaison. There are very unique individuals who are truly committed to their work, and are gifted comforting to persons in circumstances that most of us cannot begin to understand. This is what makes a Nurse such an incredible protector and healer like no other. There is a nurse at MTMC that during a shift many of us watched demonstrate love, respect and dignity during the most horrific of circumstances beyond anything that I have ever witnessed in my 25 years in Healthcare, or as former EMT/Firefighter.

An infant was brought in the ED, unresponsive and blue by the completely distraught and petrified parents. The ED and Code Blue Team immediately begun all of the life saving measures, while the chaplains were called to render support to the family and staff. After much time with all of the care teams, all efforts to bring the child back, were unsuccessful. There were many EXCEPTIONAL team members involved in this tragic situation. However, there was one nurse who was right by the parent’s side, and continued to hold the baby in a nurturing and loving way. As to protect the baby and give the purest of love even though the baby had passed away. As you can imagine, the family could not bear to hold or see the baby for quite a while afterward. They were trying to process how their entire world would never be the same. After a period of time, the family wanted to see the baby, and say goodbye. The calm, loving reassurance from the nurse was the only thing that those shattered parents could focus on. They looked to this compassionate nurse to navigate this nightmare as to what comes next. She made sure that baby looked absolutely perfect before the parents would hold their child one last time. Her demeanor and empathy cannot truly be described in words. Her presence was that of reassurance to hold their deceased baby and kiss the infant goodbye for the last time. It was the most painful and beautiful thing to watch, but yet her grace is what allowed this family to have the dignity and closure they so deserved. With permission from the family, the nurse dressed the baby in clothing that the family and brought so that the coroner could take the baby to the funeral home. The Nurse comforted the souls of all of us by doing this. She had no idea the impact of her radiant compassionate and loving composure that held us all together as we grieved with the family.

I will forever remember the image of her, holding that beautiful baby, while lovingly wrapping the infant up in a blanket and clothing as this earthy life ended; and just how surreal this moment was and just how peaceful and comforting to witness such unconditional love for someone we never knew. She gently gave the baby to the Chaplain who said a prayer, and this incredible nurse stayed with that baby long after her shift had ended until the coroner came. If there is anyone who is a DAISY Nurse I believe it to be Naykea Sellers, RN Emergency Department.