Karen is our baby nurse on L&D. She is present in every C-section to meet the families, make the baby a special hat personalized with their name, and reassure everyone that their baby will be well taken care of. No matter what happens once the baby comes out, Karen is prepared and calm, whether she is giving some respiratory support to a baby that needs a little extra help or running a neonatal code. She is cool and collected at all times, even the most difficult ones.
Last week, I was the labor nurse caring for a family with known fetal anomalies, where they had known for months that the baby would not survive past delivery but had decided to continue with the pregnancy in order to have the baby's organs donated. It was my first time taking care of a baby with this particular anomaly, and I was having a really difficult time coping with it and preparing the family for what to expect. Karen stayed with me for four hours after her shift was over to help me with the delivery, and to provide the family with photographs and memories of their baby.
Just as she always is, Karen was a calm, patient, and peaceful presence in a terrible situation. I am always so grateful for her, but I couldn't have gotten through that delivery without her. She took the worst circumstance imaginable for that family and provided some sweet memories of their baby that they wouldn't have otherwise had. Karen is a true DAISY Nurse!