When you are a parent of a child in the NICU, every time you leave your baby it feels like you are leaving a piece of your own heart behind. With my daughter being medically complex, it meant the world to me to know nurses were getting to know her and caring for her like I would. One nurse whom I felt immediately comfortable with was Allison Hans. I met Allison when she was my baby girl, L's day shift nurse. The way Allison talked to L was like she was an important tiny person, always thought carefully about her comfort when getting her cozy in bed and was on top of everything involved in her complex care stood out to me.

Allison became one of our primary nurses, and I always said I wished she could work every day of the week. I didn’t feel hesitant to ask to hold L when Allison was on shift, and even so Allison quickly got to know my routine and knew when I came in, I would desire to hold my baby after I got in a quick pumping session. She would get L's wires and breathing tubes situated and tell L that it was time to get some mama snuggles as she got her ready to hand off to me. She let me help give L a bath one time and I will never forget that as it was the one and only bath, I ever got to be a part of during L's life.

Allison was there through some rollercoaster type days and always remained calm and attentive. When L transitioned into comfort care, I was ever so lucky to have Allison on dayshift with us during L's last days. She played a big part in helping me make such wonderful final memories with my baby. Allison helped me get L into what should have been her "going home" star outfit and helped take some photos of me and L that I look at every day and treasure with all my heart. She also helped make some crafts, knowing how important they would be for memories.

One other thing that stood out was that during the time L was in comfort care, I had a postpartum doctor appointment scheduled nearby. I mentioned I was afraid to go to and leave L, but I felt it was a very important appointment. Allison is the reason I was able to go to that appointment because she reassured me that L would be okay, and she even went and found me an umbrella that I could use to walk to my appointment since it was raining. Allison took such good care of L and was like a second mommy to her. Even though she knew L was in her final days of life, she remained a strong and supportive caregiver, and L was lucky to have her.

I couldn’t thank Allison enough, and I am happy to have such special memories of my baby girl because of her. Allison, thank you for taking care of my sweet L and being a part of her life.