Stewart Hilton, RN

My baby was less than a week old when he was admitted to Paddington’s HDU with episodes of non-breathing due to a virus. As a medical professional, my natural instinct was to try to help and be involved with his care, be strong for others, and keep my emotions in check. However, as a father, it was very hard to stand on the sidelines while others were caring for my son, and at times it was hard to keep my emotions in check when I saw my son poorly and how much my wife was struggling.

Stewart was brilliant throughout. Not only did he help care for my son, but he also gave support to my wife and ensured, as a non-medical professional, that she understood what was going on, and he also recognised when I started to struggle. At this point, he took me aside and gave me the time, support, and comfort that I needed. He gave me the opportunity to speak candidly about my fears and offered advice and comfort by relaying some of his personal experiences. This was not something he needed to do, but going above and beyond as he did helped me get through the awful days.