My mostly nonverbal, autistic teen son is terrified of all things medical. He had his 1st seizure. My son and I were both visibly emotional because of it when he came in by ambulance. The travel RN was an amazing advocate for both him and myself. When he was admitted again today for another seizure I hoping to have her as his nurse again. When I saw her face I immediately calmed down. 

We also met a wonderful nurse named Chelsey. Because he doesn't take vitals as well as other kids, she spent longer with him. Chelsey Immediately invented a game where she gave him high fives and fist bumps (which he loves) if he just touched the pulse ox and blood pressure cuff. In his years of seeing nurses and doctors, no one had taken the time to help him over his uneasiness about the vital machines. She even allowed us to take the single-use blood pressure cuff and pulse ox sticky thing home to play with it to help him get used to it. She never lost her patience and gave him exactly the compassion and understanding needed in that moment for an autistic child.

These 2 nurses will forever be our "go to" nurses when we come here as they are the absolute epitome of superheroes in our book! I cannot express into words how amazing both of them are. It literally brings tears to my eyes thinking of how I wish all medical staff was as knowledgeable and understanding of Autism as the 2 of them are. These 2 nurses are like two bright shiny stars in a pitch black night (calming, guiding, and reassuring). In the military we have a saying when someone is getting recognition for going above and beyond or well done; it’s called "Bravo Zulu". These 2 nurses deserve a Bravo Zulu because their kindness, compassion, understanding, and extraordinary measures for our son are beyond anything we have ever seen or experienced.