RE: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nomination for the Daisy Award
Hello,
The family of St. Vincent employee, Angela Merrick R.N., would like to nominate the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nursing staff for the Daisy Award.
We wish to convey our deepest and most sincere thanks to each member in the NICU. They supported us, sent hopes and prayers our way, sent cards and notes of inspiration, gifts, food and whatever else they could do for us during the most difficult time in our lives.
When the most precious person one has ever had the privilege and honor to call a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, and coworker is stricken with such a horrible disease as cancer, it feels like your world is spinning out of control because, in reality, it is. Our lives changed instantly upon her diagnosis. We felt helpless watching our beautiful angel struggle at times. What we could do for her, we certainly did without hesitation. We were there for her. Every possible second of every day we were there. We prayed more than we ever have.
Regarding the NICU staff, everything our family felt and did for her, they felt and did too. If there is any good that came of this, and we've struggled to find some until we had time to think, it is this; they were a gift from God. We saw it firsthand. It restored our faith. When we felt our lowest, they banded and formed to help lift us more than they can ever know. We are so fortunate and blessed to have them in our lives now.
Here is a short list of examples demonstrating the kindness, compassion, and support they extended to our family during our angel's two-year sickness:
They kept a meal train going indefinitely - ensuring we were eating right. The food kept coming and coming...They covered shifts - many times working four or five days straight so she could take off for chemotherapy treatments and medical proceduresThey took off voluntary during low census so she could work to get the hours needed to meet FMLA criteriaThis past Christmas, they voted to let her have the Holiday off so she could spend it at home with family (she didn't want to agree to this but they insisted)They would not float her out to adult units unless it was mother/baby because she was so susceptible to infectionThey would keep her working in the front of the NICU where the little "growers" usually were - wherever they thought the workload would be the easiest is where they put herThere were many Sunshine Baskets full of treats, restaurant gift cards, massage certificates (she LOVED massages, and the girls knew it), manicure/pedicure certificates, inspirational gifts, etc. (see the attached picture of the one they sent to the hospital room)On the night she passed away, her coworkers came to her bedside to support her, comfort her, and tell her they loved her. Many stayed all night.
The NICU staff never complained once about the special treatment she was getting. That is a testament to the character and humanity of each person there. St. Vincent surely is honored and proud to have them as associates.
Some people can go through their whole lives and never experience the love and compassion we felt from her coworkers. Our one true hope is that the NICU staff will win the Daisy Award as recognition for their countless and selfless acts of love they showed our angel and her family. We love and cherish each of them so much.
Kindest regards,
Jeff Merrick and Family