Hannah, you have forever impacted our life. You arecompassionate, thorough, smart, always one step ahead, alert to your surroundings, and able to sympathize with the family but able to still remain strong for them. You explained the most difficult situations with grace and compassion. Even in such a difficult time with my sweet son, your strength never wavered and we could lean on you. As you watched my husband, family, and I weep and wail over mydying sonyou never once wavered in your strength. You provided us hopewhen we needed it and kept our expectations realistic. You prepared us for every step of the way. You helped us answer some of the most difficult questions and choicesregarding oursweet baby who was no longer there mentally but was still present with his physical body. A mother never thinks of making her child a DNR, yet your words eased our decision.
Every time the monitor would note a heart rate change, BP change, or oxygen change my chest would get tight and I would panic."Hannah," I would cry out and you would look at me, calm and collected, and I knew you had my sweet baby taken care of. Even though my sweet baby boy was brain dead and machines were keeping him alive, you treated him as if he was really there and aware of what was going on. You called him "buddy" and talked to him reassuringly.
You took such great care of my family when I was not able to. You answered their silly questions without making them feel dumb. You checked for lab results every few seconds just because you knew I needed them. In the midst of sorrow and grief, you encouraged us to remember the good times we had with my son.The care you provided my sweet baby could not have been any better, and I hold such a high standard.
In the end, you knew exactly what I needed and wanted.When my son was dying, you made sure he was in his mother's arms holding him tight.Even thoughthis was your fourth twelve-hour shift in a row and I know how exhausted you must have been, it never showed.On the worst day of our lives, you gave us andoursweet baby the best care wecould have received.I know it wasjust another night for you as an extraordinarynurse, as I know you must provide this type of care to all your patients every night you work. Thank you for everything.