Stephanie E. Anspach
November 2024
Stephanie E.
Anspach
,
BSN, RN
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
Columbus
,
OH
United States
Stephanie called to other units in the hospital to get a bariatric recliner, large enough for both of them. Stephanie also coordinated to have a professional photographer take pictures of this very special moment for the family.
Stephanie was the nurse of an infant born very prematurely. She was very little and very sick. Unfortunately, on the night Stephanie was her nurse, she took a turn for the worst. When the infant's parents arrived, Stephanie never left the room. She comforted them and continued to care for her patient as the team did everything in their power to keep her alive. It was a miracle that the infant survived that night.
The following night, Stephanie was not scheduled to work. However, after her first night with the infant and family, she picked up a shift to be with them again. Sadly, the parents had already suffered an infant loss, and Stephanie wanted to be there for them as they went through this difficult situation once more. Stephanie encouraged the infant's mom to hold her for the first time, but the mom wanted to sit with her husband beside her. Instead of simply saying this was not possible, the chair is not big enough for two of you, Stephanie called to other units in the hospital to get a bariatric recliner, large enough for both of them. Stephanie also coordinated to have a professional photographer take pictures of this very special moment for the family. The infant did amazing in her mother's arms and made it through another night.
The next night, Stephanie picked up another shift to be with the infant and her family. Sadly, the infant did not have any fight left, and early in the morning, the infant passed in her mother's arms. Stephanie was always close by, helping her parents in any way they needed. Stephanie stayed at the bedside while the infant's parents mourned her. She helped the parents bathe the infant for the first time and get any last keepsakes. Even when her shift was over, Stephanie stayed to help the infant's mother and father say goodbye. I worked with Stephanie through what I can only imagine were the three most difficult nights of her career, 2 of which she did not even need to come in for. She went above and beyond, doing everything in her power to make the infant comfortable and give her family the most memorable moments of her short life.
The following night, Stephanie was not scheduled to work. However, after her first night with the infant and family, she picked up a shift to be with them again. Sadly, the parents had already suffered an infant loss, and Stephanie wanted to be there for them as they went through this difficult situation once more. Stephanie encouraged the infant's mom to hold her for the first time, but the mom wanted to sit with her husband beside her. Instead of simply saying this was not possible, the chair is not big enough for two of you, Stephanie called to other units in the hospital to get a bariatric recliner, large enough for both of them. Stephanie also coordinated to have a professional photographer take pictures of this very special moment for the family. The infant did amazing in her mother's arms and made it through another night.
The next night, Stephanie picked up another shift to be with the infant and her family. Sadly, the infant did not have any fight left, and early in the morning, the infant passed in her mother's arms. Stephanie was always close by, helping her parents in any way they needed. Stephanie stayed at the bedside while the infant's parents mourned her. She helped the parents bathe the infant for the first time and get any last keepsakes. Even when her shift was over, Stephanie stayed to help the infant's mother and father say goodbye. I worked with Stephanie through what I can only imagine were the three most difficult nights of her career, 2 of which she did not even need to come in for. She went above and beyond, doing everything in her power to make the infant comfortable and give her family the most memorable moments of her short life.