Amber Warner
October 2024
Amber
Warner
,
BSN, RN
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Medical University of South Carolina: Sean Jenkins Children's Hospital
Charleston
,
SC
United States
Our family spent 74 long days in the NICU, and I can truly say that my son, my husband, and I would not be where or who we are today if we did not have Amber as our nurse.
I first met Amber in the middle of the night as I was sleeping next to my son’s isolette in the NICU. She was not our nurse that night…but quietly came in and introduced herself. She told me that she was watching my son’s monitors through the window, and it looked as if he was struggling to breathe, so she wanted to come in and be near him in case he needed intervention. There were no alarms going off, nothing signaling that he needed help, but Amber was looking out for him. I instantly felt at peace and knew I wanted her to care for our son.
From that night, Amber became my son’s primary nurse. She did not just care for him, she loved him. She would spend so much time thoroughly cleaning his room at the start of each shift, never leaving anything untouched. She would always go the extra mile to make sure he was comfortable, like giving him some sugar water when she had to redo his NG tube, which he pulled out often. She’d consult the providers and advocate for him when we felt our voices weren’t being heard. She’d go over his care plan in great detail with us and answer any questions we had. She’d help pick out his outfits and linens with us every night, making a big deal out of it and something we’d look forward to. She would talk to our son often, hold him, and help console him.
While she was taking such wonderful care of our son, it’s important to note that Amber was also taking care of my husband and me. She was gentle, kind, and attentive. She became someone we trusted to share our feelings, concerns, and our hearts with. When 7:00 pm rolled around, and her shift started, my husband and I both felt like we could breathe a little lighter and felt more at peace, knowing she was with our family. Amber would notice on days I was down and find the perfect time to ask me if I was okay. She’d come into the room when she saw me staring at his monitors, stay with me, and reassure me that my son was okay and in good hands. She would wake me up per my request in the middle of the night to make sure I would not miss pumping sessions. She would ask my husband and me if we needed anything to eat when she would run to the cafeteria and offer to bring us dinners on her nights off. She’d constantly tell us what good parents we are and how proud of ourselves we should be. On the day we were discharged, Amber drove in on her day off and walked out of SJCH with us, filming the whole thing, taking photos for us, and helping us celebrate the huge milestone.
Our family spent 74 long days in the NICU, and I can truly say that my son, my husband, and I would not be where or who we are today if we did not have Amber as our nurse. She embodies all of the qualities of the DAISY Award and exemplifies what being a nurse is all about. While we, of course, wish that our son did not have to go to the NICU, we find ourselves fortunate to have met Amber and will forever call her family and be grateful for getting us through our most trying times.
From that night, Amber became my son’s primary nurse. She did not just care for him, she loved him. She would spend so much time thoroughly cleaning his room at the start of each shift, never leaving anything untouched. She would always go the extra mile to make sure he was comfortable, like giving him some sugar water when she had to redo his NG tube, which he pulled out often. She’d consult the providers and advocate for him when we felt our voices weren’t being heard. She’d go over his care plan in great detail with us and answer any questions we had. She’d help pick out his outfits and linens with us every night, making a big deal out of it and something we’d look forward to. She would talk to our son often, hold him, and help console him.
While she was taking such wonderful care of our son, it’s important to note that Amber was also taking care of my husband and me. She was gentle, kind, and attentive. She became someone we trusted to share our feelings, concerns, and our hearts with. When 7:00 pm rolled around, and her shift started, my husband and I both felt like we could breathe a little lighter and felt more at peace, knowing she was with our family. Amber would notice on days I was down and find the perfect time to ask me if I was okay. She’d come into the room when she saw me staring at his monitors, stay with me, and reassure me that my son was okay and in good hands. She would wake me up per my request in the middle of the night to make sure I would not miss pumping sessions. She would ask my husband and me if we needed anything to eat when she would run to the cafeteria and offer to bring us dinners on her nights off. She’d constantly tell us what good parents we are and how proud of ourselves we should be. On the day we were discharged, Amber drove in on her day off and walked out of SJCH with us, filming the whole thing, taking photos for us, and helping us celebrate the huge milestone.
Our family spent 74 long days in the NICU, and I can truly say that my son, my husband, and I would not be where or who we are today if we did not have Amber as our nurse. She embodies all of the qualities of the DAISY Award and exemplifies what being a nurse is all about. While we, of course, wish that our son did not have to go to the NICU, we find ourselves fortunate to have met Amber and will forever call her family and be grateful for getting us through our most trying times.