June 2020
Christine
Gerardot
,
RN
Intensive Care Unit
Lutheran St Joseph Hospital
Fort Wayne
,
IN
United States
From the moment we received the call about our son and raced to the hospital to speak with the physician, the news of his condition was not good. So as our family gathered, hugged, cried, and talked, it was at that time nurse Chris immediately became part of our family. She would not only be our nurse, but she also would become the nurse for the other patients and their families who would be the recipients of our son's organ donation. They will never know Chris and the big part she played in our son's care as well as in the care for others, but her impact will be forever felt. She made it her mission to ensure that everything possible was being done to promise loved ones a "second chance" at life. We are so very proud that our son decided to be a donor and help someone else have the ability to have another birthday, anniversary, wedding, Christmas, and new year. Chris did her job to make sure they received those opportunities. She cared for her patients, our son especially, just like she would a member of her own family. When the time came for us to walk our son down the hallway just one last time to the elevator to release him into the loving hands of the donor team, Chris had arranged for staff to line the halls in honor of our son's heroic final moments. Our family is forever grateful for that honor and respect given. We are so blessed that our son was cared for by such a loving and compassionate nurse. We love you Chris and cannot thank you enough.