Mira Radisic serves as our unit’s Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) nurse. PD allows families the option to care for their children at home. These children receive their life-sustaining dialysis treatments every night while they are asleep instead of coming into the hospital to receive hemodialysis 3-4 times per week for a minimum of four hours each visit. While not the best option for all patients, this treatment modality allows the child more time at home and less time in the hospital. It does, however, require significant responsibility on the part of the child’s caregivers to ensure the patient receives safe dialysis treatments, avoids infection, and receives prompt medical attention if any issues arise. 

As the PD nurse, Mira provides a week of intensive training for these children and their caregivers. She sees them at least monthly for visits and is in frequent communication with the families in between visits to ensure the child receives optimal care. She is often the primary point of contact for these families and the relationship she builds with them allows her to serve as their advocate to the interdisciplinary team. Mira has a unique ability to genuinely connect with each patient and family, meeting their individual needs in the way that works best for them. Her compassion and empathy for each patient’s unique situation is evident in all she does. 

A patient Mira cared for on PD for almost two years had his last clinic visit prior to receiving a kidney transplant. The patient’s mother expressed profound gratitude for his entire dialysis team, but especially wanted to recognize Mira. She wrote the following: “As a mom to a medically complex child, wanting the best care for them is a high priority. Mira far exceeded expectations regarding the care, compassion, and relationship she provided for my son and my family. Mira created a safe space for my son to play, express his feelings, and feel safe in a sea of medical anxiousness. It’s not often a toddler is excited about entering a hospital, but the days he got to visit Mira were always a highlight. The joy in my son’s face when we got to the Pediatric Dialysis Unit doors, and he was free to run to her is a core memory I’ll always cherish. She always took her time with my son, allowing him time to explore, explaining what was happening, and deepening their bond. There is no one-time that stands out to me above the rest, as every encounter with Mira has been delightful. She is an incredible asset to not only the hospital, but each patient she encounters. She is a one-of-a-kind nurse, and my son was so blessed to have her in his corner.”