Recently my 5-year-old son was on SS and needed to be sedated for the first of several MRIs. Monica was one of the PICU nurses who was going to bring us down to Imaging and stay to monitor him during his procedure. When she arrived to our room, I knew right away she was what he needed, but couldn't imagine how much I was going to need her.

There are people in this world who are just meant to work with children; she's one of them. She was so silly with him, joking around, making him laugh. She asked questions about his favorite things, pretended to race around corners as they pushed him through the halls, and jumped and wooed with him in the elevator. It was the first time I saw him smile since we got here. Watching your baby be sedated is already an unpleasant experience but my little guy stopped breathing, and I panicked internally as I watched a very calm staff "bag him" and help him start breathing again. I felt the room begin to spin, heart in my throat, stomach in my feet, when Monica stepped in front of me to bring me back to earth. She reassured me how common that was and that he was totally okay. She emphasized how hard it must have been to watch it happen but promised that she would take good care of him while I waited. After what seemed like a lifetime, Monica was wheeling him back into his room all smiles and reassurance just like when I left them.

Our interaction wasn't long and maybe wouldn't seem grand to others, but it was grand for me. I will remember the kindness she showed my son and the smiles she created. I will remember the compassion she showed me in my most vulnerable and scary moment as a parent. Thank you, Monica, for seeing the parent behind the patient. What took a moment of your time meant the world to me.