I wanted to take the time to recognize the outstanding nurses and doctors at Shady Grove. When I was admitted to Shady Grove antepartum unit it was not only the scariest moment of my own life but my unborn son's life as well. My husband and I had worked so hard to become pregnant with C and I had an eventful pregnancy from the start. When I was 34 weeks I was admitted for unexplained bleeding and discharged only to be readmitted only 2 days later for the same thing.
I had an extremely long labor and the silence I heard when my child was brought into this world was deafening and I will never forget how scared I was. The labor and delivery nurses quickly worked on C and within minutes the neonatologist had arrived. Finally, I heard the most beautiful cry I have ever heard. The NICU charge nurse was called to the room as well and C was started on CPAP. They continued to work on him and he was going to be taken to the NICU. The second worst feeling is having your baby taken away from you. The charge nurse was sure to bring C with all his tubes over to me to say hi and goodbye (for the time being) and allow me to give my baby a kiss. The charge nurse could see how scared my husband was and explained the whole process to him as he followed our son to the NICU.
One nurse, in particular, stood out and that is Cathy Ambrogi. Cathy exemplifies what a DAISY Nurse is. At the time, Cathy was in the case management role. On the third morning in NICU, C had some bulging in his fontanel and they wanted to get a head US. I was discharged from the hospital but had not been home yet and I was planning to leave him for the first time. I was so physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted I was torn whether or not to leave my son. Cathy came in on her day off to sit with C and she said she would call me as soon as the test was done. Being in the medical, field my mind was racing. Cathy offered to do something so selfless, to just sit next to his bed when I couldn't, and I will never forget the amount of gratitude I had for her. Cathy was an advocate for my son when I was not there.
My son C is 6 months old and I still think about the nurses and doctors at Shady Grove every day. I know this nomination may be a little late but it truly demonstrates the lasting impact Cathy Ambrogi and this team had on my family.
The dedication, compassion, and care that Cathy has for her patients and families is extraordinary.