For each of us, life is a sequence of experiences enhanced or tarnished by those whom we share them with. Unfortunately, in the first 2 years of our son's life, hospitals and clinic offices have been a significant part of our experience. During longer stays, we're like students on the first day of school, holding our breath to see who walks through the door during each shift change. Some would say we're a unique set of parents: inquisitive, thoughtful, and relentlessly advocating for the needs of our son. We have high expectations for our caregivers, and after a rough tonsillectomy, we found ourselves stuck in a hospital room longer than anyone could have expected. Our patience was wearing thin. We wanted answers. We wanted our child to be himself again. Many pleasant nurses came and went through our doors. Then Katie arrived.
She was attentive to detail, confident, and equally empathic- the very balance our hearts and minds needed most. Katie is a quick thinker and seemingly never tires, all while dedicating herself to back-to-back shifts in order to deliver continuity of care to her patients. And what a difference it made. On a medical level, she is incredibly knowledgeable and always made it a priority to be present during rounds. Instead of standing meekly on the sidelines, she actively participated in treatment planning with doctors, unafraid of offering suggestions that were in the best interest of our son. We were very fortunate as it often felt like we had another doctor in the room with us. Katie went above and beyond to answer all of our questions, including those she didn't have to. For example, my analytical husband asked about science and mechanics of how the pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation levels. She gracefully responded to this and so many other questions like this, even showing up 15 minutes later with a printed description and diagram. My husband was on the ground playing with our son, and instead of simply handing over the paper, she crouched down to enthusiastically share more about what she had learned. That's the kind of nurse Katie is- someone who instinctually is able to meet you where you are.
Throughout our stay, she was our safety net and our master problem solver. When we felt bad about our son's isolation status, she ordered up a play mat and routinely brought him toys. When our son screamed from getting his nose suctioned, she was leading the chorus of "Baby Beluga" to soothe his restless soul. When we looked tired and run down, she reminded us of the importance of taking care of ourselves and helped us to figure out what felt appropriate and authentic for us. When we felt like we weren't doing enough, she told us what amazing parents we were. After just 3 days, we felt like we had known her for years. She is the kind of person you want to be friends with because you know she will always be there when you need her. She was the exact kind of person a unique set of parents needed the most: inquisitive, thoughtful, and relentlessly advocating for our son's needs.
She embodies everything you want your employees to be: Committed to providing exceptional care, intentional about removing barriers, invested in lifelong learning, and present in the moment. While we know DAISY stands for "Diseases Attacking in the Immune System", we can't help but see the flower as more representative of Katie's great work. A daisy adds beauty and serenity to an otherwise lifeless landscape. Katie was our DAISY, and we couldn't be more grateful. Certainly, there are many things we hope will become less vivid about our son's painful hospitalization, but Katie will never be one of them. With deep gratitude.