Kimberly Ulrich
July 2025
Kimberly
Ulrich
,
BSN, RN, PED-BC
4W
Manning Family Children's
New Orleans
,
LA
United States
Kimmi was an example of what nursing should be all about.
I’m writing to you today on the one month anniversary of the passing of my grandson, Ray. Ray had spent the last 14 months of his life at your facility with only small breaks to be home. With that, Children’s Hospital became his home, and your staff became extended members of his family. I spent a number of days over that time visiting Ray.
One of the things Ray liked to do in the earlier days was to go for walks and wagon rides. It was a common thing for Ray to be passing by patient rooms, and hear the nurses and other staff yell out, “Hey Ray”. Usually, Ray would just give a nod of his head or a quick wave. As his battle moved forward and we ultimately accepted that hope was lost, we transitioned to hospice care.
The last 5 days of Ray’s life are what I would like to focus on. I was not in favor of coming back to New Orleans for hospice and thought Sam and Raven would be better served to do it closer to home, in Ocean Springs, and not 100 miles from home. I had a number of conversations with the Doctor in the waning days of Ray's care, where we discussed hospice, and I specifically had said that I didn’t want Ray’s last days of life, and for his family members to be in a cold sterile hospital room.
They assured me that Ray’s hospice care would be done on a different floor and not in a standard hospital room. You can probably understand my frustration when we showed up for Ray’s final admission to hospice and were placed on 4W in a patient room only to find out the hospice room was not yet available.
As emotions are always high at end of life, my frustration quickly changed to anger and I was vocal about what was conveyed previously on how Ray’s hospice would be handled. What happened next is what altered the course for my family, as what could have been a negative memory etched into our minds forever, turned into a gift in watching what dedicated and engaged providers can do when they are allowed to do what’s right for their patient. I went out to the car to get some items, when I returned I saw the doctor’s and staff huddled together.
Within a few hours the room was transformed. The bed was turned to the side to open the room up, a large rug was put down, a couch that converted to a bed was brought in. A Christmas tree was put up with dinosaur and handmade baby shark ornaments, Ray’s favorite things in the world. Dinosaur bedsheets and pillow cases and soft blankets were placed. Ray had become light sensitive and sheets were hung over the windows to make him more comfortable. Pictures where hung over his bed and windows of Ray and his family.
Over the next few days, staff popped into the room to say hi and ultimately goodbye to Ray and his family. Kimmi was one of Ray’s nurses during his final days. At the end of each shift, their eyes would fill with tears as they didn’t know if they would see Ray again after they walked out the door.
They were professional, compassionate, and committed to making Ray’s last days, and his family’s last memories, as peaceful and loving as possible. A few hours after Ray passed away, Kimmi, and the Doctor came in and wrapped Ray in a blanket and gently carried him from the room in their arms, as if Ray had fallen asleep on the couch and they were taking him to his bed. That is the last memory that his parents and I have to hold on to.
As I left your hospital that morning and drove away, knowing that I would more than likely never step foot in it again, I was overcome by gratitude for your staff, physicians, and leadership. Although we prayed and hoped for a different outcome, the end of Ray’s life had meaning and purpose for us all.
We would like to thank all of the staff, from EVS, food services, PCT’s , nurses, physicians, and anyone else that I am omitting, that took care of Ray and his family for the past 14 months. And a special thanks to Dr. W and his medical staff. The nurses were phenomenal whether we were on 4W during admissions, or the infusion center for appts and transfusions. But at the end of life, Kimmi was an example of what nursing should be all about. On behalf of Ray’s family, thank you.
One of the things Ray liked to do in the earlier days was to go for walks and wagon rides. It was a common thing for Ray to be passing by patient rooms, and hear the nurses and other staff yell out, “Hey Ray”. Usually, Ray would just give a nod of his head or a quick wave. As his battle moved forward and we ultimately accepted that hope was lost, we transitioned to hospice care.
The last 5 days of Ray’s life are what I would like to focus on. I was not in favor of coming back to New Orleans for hospice and thought Sam and Raven would be better served to do it closer to home, in Ocean Springs, and not 100 miles from home. I had a number of conversations with the Doctor in the waning days of Ray's care, where we discussed hospice, and I specifically had said that I didn’t want Ray’s last days of life, and for his family members to be in a cold sterile hospital room.
They assured me that Ray’s hospice care would be done on a different floor and not in a standard hospital room. You can probably understand my frustration when we showed up for Ray’s final admission to hospice and were placed on 4W in a patient room only to find out the hospice room was not yet available.
As emotions are always high at end of life, my frustration quickly changed to anger and I was vocal about what was conveyed previously on how Ray’s hospice would be handled. What happened next is what altered the course for my family, as what could have been a negative memory etched into our minds forever, turned into a gift in watching what dedicated and engaged providers can do when they are allowed to do what’s right for their patient. I went out to the car to get some items, when I returned I saw the doctor’s and staff huddled together.
Within a few hours the room was transformed. The bed was turned to the side to open the room up, a large rug was put down, a couch that converted to a bed was brought in. A Christmas tree was put up with dinosaur and handmade baby shark ornaments, Ray’s favorite things in the world. Dinosaur bedsheets and pillow cases and soft blankets were placed. Ray had become light sensitive and sheets were hung over the windows to make him more comfortable. Pictures where hung over his bed and windows of Ray and his family.
Over the next few days, staff popped into the room to say hi and ultimately goodbye to Ray and his family. Kimmi was one of Ray’s nurses during his final days. At the end of each shift, their eyes would fill with tears as they didn’t know if they would see Ray again after they walked out the door.
They were professional, compassionate, and committed to making Ray’s last days, and his family’s last memories, as peaceful and loving as possible. A few hours after Ray passed away, Kimmi, and the Doctor came in and wrapped Ray in a blanket and gently carried him from the room in their arms, as if Ray had fallen asleep on the couch and they were taking him to his bed. That is the last memory that his parents and I have to hold on to.
As I left your hospital that morning and drove away, knowing that I would more than likely never step foot in it again, I was overcome by gratitude for your staff, physicians, and leadership. Although we prayed and hoped for a different outcome, the end of Ray’s life had meaning and purpose for us all.
We would like to thank all of the staff, from EVS, food services, PCT’s , nurses, physicians, and anyone else that I am omitting, that took care of Ray and his family for the past 14 months. And a special thanks to Dr. W and his medical staff. The nurses were phenomenal whether we were on 4W during admissions, or the infusion center for appts and transfusions. But at the end of life, Kimmi was an example of what nursing should be all about. On behalf of Ray’s family, thank you.