My daughter has always been a patient at Riley's since birth however in November of 2020 we started having to make frequent overnight stays at Riley always landing on 9 East floor due to her colon not working. She was having everything from colon cleanouts to surgery, you name it, it was being done. From our very first stay, Erika brought love and compassion from her heart into our room. My daughter has always been scared of nurses and doctors because she has been through so many procedures however it was different with her. She didn't make her or our family feel like we were just another patient she had to care for she showed true compassion she sat at the bedside with my daughter while she was crying scared and held her hand telling her it was going to be okay. She even allowed my daughter to take a stethoscope and listen to her baby (Erika is pregnant) just trying to make her feel comfortable.

We were admitted for her to have the mace button put in we were once again put on 9 east but unfortunately, Erika wasn't our nurse, but that didn't stop her from going above and beyond yet again. Our daughter was having a really hard time with pain and then pain medications were making her vomit multiple times she wasn't keeping anything down and again Erika was NOT our nurse but let me tell you her heart is always in the right place. Our daughter was vomiting and it was everywhere, of course, she was in a lot of pain due to having surgery the day prior. Her assigned nurse was doing all she could do to make her feel comfortable and get her relaxed but it just wasn't working. When Erika stepped out of her resident's room she heard our daughter crying and she washed her hands and came right in to assist. The moment Erika grabbed her hand and asked her what was wrong our daughter saw her and felt so much relief that she started settling down and allowed us to get her cleaned up and a new bed made. Even though she had a full plate of her own she still made room to show she doesn't just care for who is assigned to her but she cares for all. Each time we have been admitted she has asked for her to be her nurse and sometimes it just doesn't land that way but she always finds a way to make a way to her and let her know she cares.

I feel she deserves this award because finding a nurse who goes the extra mile or above and beyond is far and few but she is that nurse she will always find a way. I want to thank her for making our daughter feel more than loved. While our stays here have become more frequent and she becomes more scared, with Erika by her side she feels so much love that it helps her from being scared and she knows she will be okay here. Thank you for all you do for her and for being the nurse to shine like a star from heaven.