My daughter G has been in PICU for 48 days at the time of this note. I have encountered several nurses who have shown an immense amount of compassion. However, G is in an extreme amount of pain due to a multitude of issues going on internally. G is non-verbal and severely disabled, so I always have to go by her body language, but I have never seen her have this amount of pain.

I am usually a strong mama who does not outwardly show my emotions around G because I don’t want her to feel the energy, but she was in so much pain that it broke me down.

The way the room is set up, the family couch and chair are behind the hospital bed. I felt safe to cry there. I asked Lydia for some tissues and broke down some more when she brought them to me.

Since the tears weren’t stopping, I asked Lydia for the contact info of the chaplain. I thought she was just going to give me the number, but she actually got them on the phone using her work phone because it’s night shift and the chaplain is not physically in the hospital.

I spent about 10 minutes talking with the chaplain but was still pretty emotional after the call. Lydia continued to show compassion and said that she would get the social worker to come and speak to me. Unbeknownst to me, instead, she made herself available. She asked for permission first because she didn’t want to overstep. I graciously accepted, and she sat down on the other chair.

Lydia spent about 15 minutes with me. She listened and heard my concerns through my tears as a broken mama. At that point, my cry was a desperate plea for my daughter’s relief. After the conversation, Lydia asked for permission again and offered me a hug. I kindly accepted because she felt I needed it. Lydia then called the doctors and told them they needed to round ASAP so we could get to the bottom of the pain. Lydia also apologized that no one addressed G’s pain and made every effort to get it mitigated.

Because of Lydia’s compassion and empathy for both my emotions and my daughter's status, G got the pain management she needed, and my broken mama's heart felt so much better.

G is 12 years old and spent her life in and out of the hospital. I have met a multitude of nurses, but this one situation will always be memorable to me.
During this admission, I have slept in the hospital every night with my daughter, so I see everything and advocate for my daughter. But to weave a nurse, watch me break down, comfort me, sit with me during her shift, and call the doctors to round made me feel heard. My emotions were more than likely a mixture of seeing my daughter in pain along with the entire 48 days of ups and downs I have been seeing.

I hope every family experiences a Lydia during their stay.