I wanted to share with you something that I found utterly beautiful and inspiring. On Thursday last week the Gift of Hope scheduled organ procurement. Not just any procurement, this one was to be a donation after circulatory death on a one month old little baby. I cannot think of a more demanding, more heart-wrenching, more difficult case to participate in. Not everyone is fit to handle it. As I was pondering staffing with the help of some of our AUDs, Katelyn Taylor came to us and in the most gracious, most endearing way simply said that she understands how difficult this case would be yet she “reframed” it in her mind and is ready to take on the challenge. There are moments in our day-to-day struggles - rare bursts of light - where among the mundane, redundant, tiring tasks we mechanically perform as nurses when we encounter something or someone that makes our souls smile. Those moments bring us joy and hope, they give us renewed strength, and they remind us that there is a purpose and deep meaning behind what we do each and every day. Katelyn coming to us was this kind of moment.

I was so impressed by this young nurse’s maturity and her sense of purpose. Katelyn’s attitude and her actions were absolutely awe-inspiring. She was able to see beyond the profound sadness and distress that such a case was undoubtedly going to bring. She was able to see beyond herself. Katelyn wanted to spare other staff members from participating in such a heartbreaking case. She was able to see the perspective of the Gift of Hope team and all their lifesaving efforts - she worked hand in hand with them to make sure the case went flawlessly. She also did it for the baby’s parents, for whom this was surely the most horrendous, most devastating experience of their lives. She wanted to make sure their wishes were honored. And ultimately, Katelyn was there for her little patient - a sweet little girl who, at only one month of age, while losing her life, was saving someone else’s.