Alyssa has cared for my son for the last year. Alyssa has gone above and beyond when caring for my son, including making sure she was the one to remove central lines in order to prevent behaviors and fear. He is on the autism spectrum and sometimes has difficulty regulating his emotions, specifically during medical procedures. Alyssa has made sure she has set up an environment in which he feels safe. 

When he was fearful of his feeding tubes, both a G and J, she ensured that not only was I comfortable in handling this new device, but J was able to understand how to use it. She has taught him to be not only comfortable with his multiple devices, but to be confident. She has advocated for him endlessly and pays attention to every detail in his complex care plan. My son asks for her by name, knows that with her, he can feel safe in the hospital.

We have been in and out of the hospital for the last year, and Alyssa has worked endlessly to ensure that he feels happy, comfortable, and confident. This is something my son struggles with, and he has difficulty connecting with other people. She is able to connect with him, allowing him to feel valued and loved. She has taught him how to care for his tubes, has taught him to administer medications so he is not so scared of them when someone else has to do it, and has taught him that a central line isn't so scary. Several times over the last 6 months, Alyssa has collaborated with his team to ensure she is the nurse available to him during procedures in order to make things easier for him. Because of this, our repeated hospital stays are no longer miserable for J, resulting in increased medications. I can't thank her enough, especially for her advocacy for him, as she knows him best. He has a very rare disorder, and she knows him and advocates for him to the best of her ability. I could not have survived the last year without her.