The night before my daughter had open heart surgery to remove a rare heart teratoma, Justin became our nurse. I did not greet him because I was overwhelmed with all the information swirling around in my head. I remember hearing him talk to my husband about what to expect post-op. My husband asked him about pain. Justin explained that he would do everything possible to help her. He, however, helped my husband recognize how valuable a parent's love is for recovery. This would later become invaluable.
That night, as my husband was preparing to leave the hospital, he encouraged me to come home to get sleep so I could be fresh the next night when my daughter needed me most. I was dragging my feet because I wasn't sure what was best. I finally decided to stay. It was very important to me that I could sit next to her bed and hold her hand. This was very difficult with all her cords, the pump, the breathing tube, and ventilator. Justin spent fifteen minutes untangling cords and readjusting how the cords were lined up. I finally could be with my baby. Justin could see my need to be there for my baby so he pulled down the side of my babies' crib and padded the side so my arm wouldn't hurt so bad as I held her hand. He did all this in silence as I quietly communicated my love for my daughter. The experience I had with her was very spiritual and Justin quietly worked around me and for me so I could be there for my baby. I will always remember the love that was in the room. That night I went to bed knowing if my daughter didn't make it, I had done everything I could for her. All of this was made possible because Justin made it so I could physically be with her regardless of the fact that I couldn't hold her.
All went well with her surgery and we were blessed to have Justin as our night nurse the next night. I was feeling much more cheerful and Justin matched my cheerful disposition. I had asked my husband for a bow for my daughter's hair when he went home. My husband forgot so Justin offered to look for one. When he went to look for one, there wasn't one that would fit an infant. Justin wasn't asked to do this but he found a face mask band and connected it to a hair clip. He brought this sweet gift to my daughter. Each time I look at her hair bow, I feel so much love. Justin not only took care of my needs, but he also came in at night and sang to my daughter when he did her routine assessments. He held her hand and comforted her when I wasn't there. He did this on multiple occasions over the multiple nights he was her nurse.
Justin went above and beyond by truly doing all he could to comfort her and our family during this time. He truly was our angel. lease consider him for the DAISY Award as I cannot think of any way he could have been more compassionate and caring.