Aimee Carter
July 2022
Aimee
Carter
,
RN
PICU
OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
,
IL
United States
We don't believe the mass found in our son's pelvic region and some other findings would have been found so quickly if it wasn't for her.
Aimee impressed us the first moment we walked into PICU. She was easy to talk to, wonderful with our son and seemed to work really well with the other staff members. You would expect that from any staff member, but the reason we are wanting to recognize Aimee is that we don't believe the mass found in our son's pelvic region and some other findings would have been found so quickly if it wasn't for her.
First, she encouraged us to get in the wagon to go on a stroll when I's sisters were here to visit, got him toys to play with, and even a cape that has become our son's favorite since being here. All of this helped play a big part in the rest of the day. We started noticing a decline in the way our son was responding to things. Aimee was able to witness the decline as well with the way our son was acting from morning to afternoon. We were able to voice our concerns to her, which she was noticing as well. Aimee was then our voice to relay what we were witnessing, reassuring us that our concerns were important, and helped keep pushing the issues. Even when I was moved from PICU to PIC she talked with his new nurse and was part of the conversation with our new team of doctors and CHS staff. That same day when shift change was about to occur, multiple teams of doctors came in to assess I and try to get his back story, what caused him to come in and assess I and what was going on that today. It was very overwhelming, and I finally broke down and couldn't handle it. Before I knew it Aimee was there at my side, giving me encouraging words and helped me get through talking with the doctors. She even stayed past her shift change to check on I and us to make sure we were updated and relaxed.
We could have easily just been treating our son for a "stool ball" for days, and possibly been sent home to recover. Sure at some point, we would have been back to the hospital for symptoms, but because of Aimee the doctors were able to order the correct tests to find the mass wasn't a stool ball, but a tumor. We couldn't have gotten through such a hard and emotional day without her support and voice!
First, she encouraged us to get in the wagon to go on a stroll when I's sisters were here to visit, got him toys to play with, and even a cape that has become our son's favorite since being here. All of this helped play a big part in the rest of the day. We started noticing a decline in the way our son was responding to things. Aimee was able to witness the decline as well with the way our son was acting from morning to afternoon. We were able to voice our concerns to her, which she was noticing as well. Aimee was then our voice to relay what we were witnessing, reassuring us that our concerns were important, and helped keep pushing the issues. Even when I was moved from PICU to PIC she talked with his new nurse and was part of the conversation with our new team of doctors and CHS staff. That same day when shift change was about to occur, multiple teams of doctors came in to assess I and try to get his back story, what caused him to come in and assess I and what was going on that today. It was very overwhelming, and I finally broke down and couldn't handle it. Before I knew it Aimee was there at my side, giving me encouraging words and helped me get through talking with the doctors. She even stayed past her shift change to check on I and us to make sure we were updated and relaxed.
We could have easily just been treating our son for a "stool ball" for days, and possibly been sent home to recover. Sure at some point, we would have been back to the hospital for symptoms, but because of Aimee the doctors were able to order the correct tests to find the mass wasn't a stool ball, but a tumor. We couldn't have gotten through such a hard and emotional day without her support and voice!