August 2026 Honoree
Rebecca Long, BSN, RN
Our daughter was born at 26 weeks as a micro preemie twin. Just ten days later, our world shattered. Her brother had been transferred to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters the day prior for an emergency consult and surgery, where he tragically passed away due to complications from prematurity.
On the very same day we lost our son, our daughter was transferred to CHKD. We arrived broken, overwhelmed with grief, and terrified for our daughter’s life. That night, our admitting nurse was Rebecca (Becca) Long, and one moment from that evening will stay with us forever.
After everything we had just endured, we were completely overwhelmed and unsure of what to expect. Becca immediately recognized the weight of what we were carrying. She sat with us, spoke gently, and took the time to answer every question we had, even as we struggled to process everything happening around us. She did not rush us or treat us like just another admission. She met us with compassion, patience, and understanding in a way that made us feel seen and cared for.
In those first critical hours, Becca helped us understand our daughter's care, explained the equipment surrounding her, and walked us through what to expect. More than anything, she gave us reassurance that she was being closely monitored and cared for. That reassurance allowed us to take our first breath after losing our son.
What could have been an even more traumatic and chaotic experience became one where we felt supported, informed, and not alone.
In the days that followed, Becca became more than just a nurse to our family. As our daughter's care continued, Becca became closely involved in her daily journey, and we quickly found ourselves looking forward to the days she was on shift. On those days, we could breathe just a little easier knowing she had someone so dedicated watching over her.
She advocated for our daughter when we couldn't be there. She anticipated our nightly phone calls and always made time to provide thoughtful updates, photos, and videos that meant everything to us.
During a 114-day NICU stay filled with both setbacks and milestones, Becca was a steady, calming presence. She celebrated the joyful moments with us, like our daughter's first bath, and helped guide us through the times when she faced setbacks. After her primary patient was discharged, Becca continued to show up for her in every way possible and became our primary nurse.
She may have been doing her job, but to us, she was giving us something priceless: peace of mind during the most fragile and uncertain time of our lives.
Even after working a full twelve-hour shift the night before, Becca showed up to walk with us during our daughter's NICU graduation. That moment meant everything to our family and is a reflection of the kind of nurse and person she is.
We may be just one family in Becca's career, but she will forever be part of the beginning of our daughter's life. She met us in our darkest moment, sat with us through our grief, answered our endless questions, and stood beside us as we finally brought our daughter home.
I truly believe this is Becca's calling. Every NICU family deserves a nurse like her, and we are endlessly grateful that our daughter had Becca.
On the very same day we lost our son, our daughter was transferred to CHKD. We arrived broken, overwhelmed with grief, and terrified for our daughter’s life. That night, our admitting nurse was Rebecca (Becca) Long, and one moment from that evening will stay with us forever.
After everything we had just endured, we were completely overwhelmed and unsure of what to expect. Becca immediately recognized the weight of what we were carrying. She sat with us, spoke gently, and took the time to answer every question we had, even as we struggled to process everything happening around us. She did not rush us or treat us like just another admission. She met us with compassion, patience, and understanding in a way that made us feel seen and cared for.
In those first critical hours, Becca helped us understand our daughter's care, explained the equipment surrounding her, and walked us through what to expect. More than anything, she gave us reassurance that she was being closely monitored and cared for. That reassurance allowed us to take our first breath after losing our son.
What could have been an even more traumatic and chaotic experience became one where we felt supported, informed, and not alone.
In the days that followed, Becca became more than just a nurse to our family. As our daughter's care continued, Becca became closely involved in her daily journey, and we quickly found ourselves looking forward to the days she was on shift. On those days, we could breathe just a little easier knowing she had someone so dedicated watching over her.
She advocated for our daughter when we couldn't be there. She anticipated our nightly phone calls and always made time to provide thoughtful updates, photos, and videos that meant everything to us.
During a 114-day NICU stay filled with both setbacks and milestones, Becca was a steady, calming presence. She celebrated the joyful moments with us, like our daughter's first bath, and helped guide us through the times when she faced setbacks. After her primary patient was discharged, Becca continued to show up for her in every way possible and became our primary nurse.
She may have been doing her job, but to us, she was giving us something priceless: peace of mind during the most fragile and uncertain time of our lives.
Even after working a full twelve-hour shift the night before, Becca showed up to walk with us during our daughter's NICU graduation. That moment meant everything to our family and is a reflection of the kind of nurse and person she is.
We may be just one family in Becca's career, but she will forever be part of the beginning of our daughter's life. She met us in our darkest moment, sat with us through our grief, answered our endless questions, and stood beside us as we finally brought our daughter home.
I truly believe this is Becca's calling. Every NICU family deserves a nurse like her, and we are endlessly grateful that our daughter had Becca.
Thank you, Rebecca, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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