I actually never knew Kristin until May 2017 when she attended my graduation party. My mother pulled me to the side and asked me if I knew who this was. I said I'm sorry I do not, she told me this is Kristin and I immediately had tears running down my face and hugged her.
See, I have been a patient at Vanderbilt since April 2013, and all my nurses are truly and absolutely wonderful. However, the compassion and love that I have heard about Kristin are extraordinary. In 2013, I was in the MICU 2 times during my stay at Vanderbilt. I crashed over 4 times. I had SIRS, SVT, DIC, intubated all due to an unknown reason. About a week later, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening autoimmune disease called HLH & stage IV non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The stories my parents and family friends speak of Kristin are amazing. I was on a 1:1 observation assignment and she apparently NEVER left my side in her 3 days span when I was her patient except for 1 time for her to use the restroom. She had people bring her food and eat outside the window. I should've died, all statistics state I should be dead, but I know the reason I am here is that Kristin never gave up on me.
Kristin not only took care of me, but she took care of my family in the biggest crisis we have ever faced- my mom's baby girl about to die. There are pictures in the MICU of me intubated with Kristin holding hands with my mom, praying and comforting her. Kristin knew the statistics of me making it out alive were slim to none, but she never allowed that to interfere with her relentless work.
In 2013, I also received a stem cell transplant. I knew if I were to survive all of this, it was my nurses whom I could thank. In 2017 after graduating from UT with my kinesiology degree, I went back and received my BSN. I now work on 10T3 as an RN on the unit with the nurses who also saved my life. Long story short, now that I too am a nurse, when I have a patient transferred to the MICU to Kristin (this has happened 3 times now) I know they are in the best hands at Vanderbilt.
Kristin, thank you for not only saving my life when I had a 2% chance of living, but you have saved so many patients. You are an Extraordinary Nurse and I am so blessed and honored you were mine. I aspire to become the nurse you are during my career here at Vanderbilt. Again, thank you for not only taking care of me but my entire family. You truly are a hero.