May 2019
Samantha
Scoggins
,
BSN, CCRN-K, CPN
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Children's National Medical Center
Washington
,
DC
United States
On Thanksgiving, we had plans to see our child before visiting family for a late lunch. Unfortunately, our child started seizing from a stroke prior to lunch. She was intubated and had EEG leads on her head for her first Thanksgiving. Enter Sammy Scoggin. That night shift we met Sammy for the first time. She didn't just stand at the door to introduce herself. She came in and gave both of us big hugs and apologized that this had all happened on Thanksgiving. We had onesies for Thanksgiving for my daughter and her twin; we hadn't been able to put it on my daughter because of the breathing tube/EEG leads. Sammy made it her mission to change that so that we could have a photoshoot. She did just that! We were lucky enough to have Sammy many times after that night. One shift she took the time to wash and dry my daughter's linens because we couldn't. She always helped with my daughter, even when she was not assigned to her. When my sister's birthday came, we couldn't get out to get her a present. Sammy got supplies so we could make her a present with the twins' footprints. This cost $0 but was priceless for us and my sister. After almost 7 months we finally got moved to HKU in hopes of going home! After we moved, Sammy came by after every shift to check on my daughter and keep up-to-date on her progress. Sammy is not only a fantastic nurse; she is an unbelievable person who has shown great compassion and love on countless occasions.