Where do I start? Gerry was our angel on earth during our NICU stay. I had my baby at 26 weeks at Medical City Dallas. This was mine and my husband's first baby and we lived 2 hours away in Tyler. We found out at a Dr. Appointment in Tyler that my baby was not growing like he was supposed to and sent us to Medical City Dallas where my baby was born weighing 1lb 2oz. We lived 2 hours away with jobs, our first child being put into NICU, me recovering from a CSection and both of us having zero knowledge of babies or anything medical. We were way in over our heads, to say the least. One of the very first days we went to visit my baby there was a hand-drawn drawing of the movie character XXX the Skeleton and all of our baby's weight, length, and birthdate details. I asked the nurse at that time who did that and she said it was another nurse down the hall named Gerry who loves that movie and heard there was a XXX in the NICU and decided to draw it for him. It was just a small detail but from the beginning, it showed us that Gerry had a heart for these children and were wanting to meet this nurse.

A few days later we actually got assigned Gerry as a nurse and let's just say it was love at first sight. There really is no dramatics when I say he was our lifesaver through the NICU journey. He took the time to show us everything we needed to know about the process, helped translate things the doctors said that were way above our heads, and was able to break it down. I learned more from Gerry than I ever did in any health class.

My baby could be very touchy and sometimes a little feisty. Gerry came in with his hand hugs and was able to calm my baby down immediately. There were moments my baby would start acting a fool and Gerry would just say to him, no sir, do not do that and I saw firsthand how just the voice of Gerry and his words to my baby would immediately raise my baby's heart rate back to normal range and prevent him from having a Brady. I was in awe at his nursing abilities. He had a way with the babies and my baby specifically. My baby loved Gerry and he let people know it.

My baby was a completely different baby when Gerry was our nurse and when he had other nurses. We then made sure to try any new things such as bottle feeding when Gerry was on shift because my baby was his best then. They had a bond I will always treasure and admire. Gerry was more than just a nurse to my baby. He became our friend and family. The NICU is a roller coaster. There are good days and there are bad days. Since we lived 2 hours away there were so many times either my husband or myself was at the hospital alone because the other had to stay home and work. Gerry was there to help celebrate the wins and be a voice of encouragement when there were bad days and I was there by myself in tears. He is someone to this day I would trust my baby with and there were days when we knew Gerry was there we felt comfortable enough to stay home and get a day of rest.

My baby took his precious time doing things. He thankfully didn't have any severe medical issues he just took his time weaning off things or grasping new steps. That could be very frustrating and tiring knowing there wasn't anything seriously wrong with him but that we just had to sit and be patient for my baby to do his own thing. Gerry was there every step of the way helping us stay strong and making each long day better and lighter with his stories and laughter. Even on days when Gerry was off, we would have other nurses come in and check on my baby because Gerry was blowing up their phone and seeing how he was doing for the day. I seriously have no idea how we would have made it the way we did without Gerry. He would even leave notes on the camera celebrating my baby's victories if we were at home and I would look at the camera and just smile and cry. I thanked God every day for sending Gerry. He has made it into my baby's scrapbook as one of the most important parts of his journey in the NICU, because as difficult as my baby could be for some nurses, I honestly don't know how different my baby's journey would have been without Gerry. Gerry could calm my baby and get him to behave and excel like no one else. The doctors and even therapists said they could tell when Gerry was on shift because my baby would excel so much. I offered Gerry to move to Tyler so many times so we could keep him, but he loves Dallas.

I pray to this day that every parent and baby in the NICU get their own Gerry, because he seriously was an angel to us and made every day easier and better. He treated my baby like his own and looked out for him and us the entire time. Being a NICU nurse is not just a job to Gerry he does it because he genuinely loves those babies and wants to give them the best care possible to get them home to their families. We will forever be grateful for Gerry and him being our nurse from pretty much day 1 to the very end at day 128 when we were discharged. We love Gerry and cannot wait to tell my baby all about him and have him understand what he did and actually get him to thank Gerry in person but for now, hopefully, this will do. Thank you Gerry for being our support, translator for medical terms and all things my baby, our laughter on the bad days, our cheerleader on the good days, my baby's safe spot, best caretaker, and best friend in the NICU. You are a true DAISY Nurse.