December 2025
Raeann
Pfeiffer
,
BSN, RN
7th Floor
Children's Minnesota
Minneapolis
,
MN
United States
Raeann was a constant source of comfort to all of us during a very stressful time in our lives.
Our baby boy was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive cancer at just 5.5 months old. We encountered dozens of caring and dedicated nurses during our long and arduous time at the hospital, but we would be remiss if we didn't seek recognition for one in particular. Our amazingly talented and highly compassionate oncology nurse, Raeann.
We first met Raeann when she came down to the PICU to administer one of our son's initial rounds of chemo. We were terrified and in disbelief that our baby was undergoing chemotherapy. Raeann met us with compassion and took the time to diligently talk us through each drug and her action plan to combat any nasty side effects. Raeann's calmness and confidence helped alleviate our stress immediately, and we were relieved to find her as part of our regular care team when we moved up to the oncology floor.
Not only was our son's comfort Raeann's top priority, but she also took such wonderful care of us parents. Raeann had a magical gift of always knowing when to check in. She’d stop by quietly and hold our son while he slept, allowing us time to grab food or catch some air outside. Raeann acknowledged our challenging moments with kindness and heart. It’s scary to walk down for emergency CT scans. It’s scary to wait for results. It’s scary to sit alone in a hospital room while your loved one is in a procedure. Not all nurses can tactfully address those moments, and many didn’t acknowledge them at all.
During those moments of uncertainty, Raeann made us feel genuinely seen and cared for, validating our emotions with warmth and empathy. As the weeks went on, Raeann became an extension of our family. Life at the hospital was surprisingly okay whenever Raeann was there. Without having to ask, she would bring in our son's favorite toys and our favorite brand of diapers and wipes upon arrival. I'm not sure how she managed to juggle her days so effortlessly. She would check vitals, administer meds (on time!), sanitize teether toys, and refill our waters, all while kindly answering a multitude of questions from our curious preschooler.
Raeann was a constant source of comfort to all of us during a very stressful time in our lives. One day, upon leaving the hospital, I encountered a broken meter in the parking ramp. My preschooler in the car told me to “just call Raeann to come fix it!” Even to him, Raeann could make everything better. After our baby unfortunately passed away, Raeann continued to support our family. Not only did she attend our son's celebration of life, which obviously meant the world to us, but she also helped share memorial details and a remembrance art project with our extended care team at the hospital.
Raeann wears our son’s memorial button proudly on her name badge, just as we hold her close to our hearts. Nurse Raeann, we are forever grateful to you. Please keep doing what you’re doing. Your patients and their families are so lucky to have you in their corner.
We first met Raeann when she came down to the PICU to administer one of our son's initial rounds of chemo. We were terrified and in disbelief that our baby was undergoing chemotherapy. Raeann met us with compassion and took the time to diligently talk us through each drug and her action plan to combat any nasty side effects. Raeann's calmness and confidence helped alleviate our stress immediately, and we were relieved to find her as part of our regular care team when we moved up to the oncology floor.
Not only was our son's comfort Raeann's top priority, but she also took such wonderful care of us parents. Raeann had a magical gift of always knowing when to check in. She’d stop by quietly and hold our son while he slept, allowing us time to grab food or catch some air outside. Raeann acknowledged our challenging moments with kindness and heart. It’s scary to walk down for emergency CT scans. It’s scary to wait for results. It’s scary to sit alone in a hospital room while your loved one is in a procedure. Not all nurses can tactfully address those moments, and many didn’t acknowledge them at all.
During those moments of uncertainty, Raeann made us feel genuinely seen and cared for, validating our emotions with warmth and empathy. As the weeks went on, Raeann became an extension of our family. Life at the hospital was surprisingly okay whenever Raeann was there. Without having to ask, she would bring in our son's favorite toys and our favorite brand of diapers and wipes upon arrival. I'm not sure how she managed to juggle her days so effortlessly. She would check vitals, administer meds (on time!), sanitize teether toys, and refill our waters, all while kindly answering a multitude of questions from our curious preschooler.
Raeann was a constant source of comfort to all of us during a very stressful time in our lives. One day, upon leaving the hospital, I encountered a broken meter in the parking ramp. My preschooler in the car told me to “just call Raeann to come fix it!” Even to him, Raeann could make everything better. After our baby unfortunately passed away, Raeann continued to support our family. Not only did she attend our son's celebration of life, which obviously meant the world to us, but she also helped share memorial details and a remembrance art project with our extended care team at the hospital.
Raeann wears our son’s memorial button proudly on her name badge, just as we hold her close to our hearts. Nurse Raeann, we are forever grateful to you. Please keep doing what you’re doing. Your patients and their families are so lucky to have you in their corner.