I was here the night she came in to support Baby A and his mother. I was just blown away by her commitment and loving nature to baby A and his mother. Death is so hard to cope with as a nurse and I think Krysta did it perfectly with grace. I really hope she is recognized for this act of kindness. She is an amazing coworker and a real pleasure to work with. She is always so positive and helpful and a huge benefit to the NICU and to BHMC. Here is what I was trying to submit.....

"An infant in the NICU was passing away slowly. His primary RN, Krysta Pepio, has so loved him. She was extremely compassionate and loving toward the infant and his family. Krysta supported the baby's mother during and after his passing. She made a huge difference in the mother's life by just being by the mother's side during her worst nightmare and helping the mother in the grieving process.

Krysta was notified by other RNs that her primary was not doing well and passing away. Krysta came in (not expecting any pay or recognition for her time) to comfort the mother and baby. She came in at 0200am to be with the family. She stayed in the room all night, holding the infant and supporting the grieving mother. She stayed until 1130am the next day. She held the infant while the mother rested and placed him into his mother's arms before he took his last breath. During his short life, Krysta made sure he was well taken care of and loved. Krysta stayed even after the infant passed away, to help and support the mother during the postmortem care. Krysta also assisted the mother by finding a funeral home that agreed to provide a small service for the mother since she had no support system besides Krysta. She attended the service with the mother to say her goodbyes to her precious primary. Not only did the baby make a huge difference in Krysta's life but she made an even bigger difference in the mother and baby's life.

Krysta deserves recognition for being so caring and selfless. This is how a nurse should be. We can all learn from her! She is a fantastic co-worker and a huge team player; working with her is always a pleasure. She has a big heart and is always very positive and smiling. Krysta is a wonderful asset to the NICU and to Broward Health Medical Center. I hope she is recognized for her commitment to making a difference in health care and to her patients and their families. "