One day that stands out in addition to her regular diligent, capable self, is the day when S was moved from the ventilator to the Bi-Pap for the first time. Within hours of the move that evening, as I entered the NICU and was just steps away from his isolette, his vital signs crashed. Kathleen was tending to another baby three beds away, sprinted to his bedside within seconds and called for a doctor while resuscitating and intubating him. I watched in trepidation from a distance and saw the steely determination and skill set while she delicately handled S, bringing him back.
As the days of S leaving the NICU came closer, she would cuddle with him even if she wasn't his primary nurse. Her professionalism was exemplary. Whatever questions I asked she would answer but refused to compare his progress to the progress of others. Instead, she would firmly reassure me that this little fighter would get through.