I met Taylor when she was on day shift orientation. Since that day and working with her on night shift I thrived to be a nurse like her. She is a nurse, and you can rely on as a right-hand man. Even though she refers to me as “old” and sometimes calls me her “mom” (we are only 6 years apart) 

Over the last 4 months, I have watched Taylor reach her absolute highest potential. She decided to take the role of primary nurse for a baby in our NICU. The diagnoses of this baby were endless and unfortunately did not have the best prognosis. There is no bigger strength than caring for a chronic baby and a devastated set of parents for 4+ months through what felt like endless surgeries, multiple intubations, constant declines, and so many days of highs and lows. 

She cared for this baby with her entire heart and soul. She always kept a strong face on for the parents even when they broke down sobbing in her arms. I can see the exhaustion in her face and the hurt in her eyes when she came into work at times. Her heart is breaking for not only her patient but the parents as well. She is determined to be support system for those parents even if it means sacrificing her own wellbeing. Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending. 

Nothing prepares you for losing a patient, but it does and will continue to shape Taylor into the great nurse that she is. Our unit, those parents, that baby, and all our future NICU families are beyond lucky to have her.