To give you a little bit of background information, I was hospitalized on A5 (High-Risk Antepartum/Postpartum Unit) for 10 days before I gave birth to my daughter at 26 weeks and 2 days. I have come into contact with many nurses at your hospital. But one stuck out to me more than anyone else and she has always, since day one, done everything she could to take care of my daughter. I wanted to send a letter to recognize and celebrate the wonderful nurse that your hospital employs. Allison Corbello works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She is currently my daughter's primary nurse and has taken care of her since her second day of life. We are on day 49 and still have many more weeks left in the hospital. Allison always goes above and beyond to take care of my baby.
When I was still in the hospital before I was discharged home, I remember calling to check on my daughter. Since I had a C-section, it was hard for me to get out of bed and come to the NICU. I called to check on her in the middle of the night and I had a million questions. She was so patient with me. She answered all of my questions to the best of her ability, and never once made me feel rushed or that my questions were not a priority. She holistically took care of my daughter. I remember her not knowing an answer to my question, but she went to find out the answer and called me back immediately.
Since she is my daughter's primary nurse, we have developed a close friendship over this long NICU stay. Even though she has never had a premature baby of her own, she does not discredit the rollercoaster of emotions that my husband and I are experiencing. She cries with me when things get tough and she rejoices with me on the good days. I am a firm believer that the bedside nurse is the most important role in the entire interdisciplinary team because they spend the most time with the patients. So, I wanted to thank you for allowing patients to choose primary nurses. It is more than just developing a relationship with the patient but knowing the patient's normal.
I am finishing up my senior year of nursing school and I will graduate in 16 days. When I graduate and start working, Allison is the type of nurse I aspire to be. She has a wonderful bedside manner, she can communicate everything effectively and in a compassionate manner. That is something that all nurses can learn from and strive to be. It is my hope that this letter finds you and allows you to recognize the true gem you have in Allison Corbello. She has been a Godsend throughout this entire journey.