We had taken our 7-year-old son into the ER for anxiety/mental health symptoms. We were so scared we had no idea if anything could be done to help him or even what to expect. When we got into our room, we had a great team, of course, but mental health in pediatrics is tough, as is everywhere else. There are more safety concerns with medications due to age, fewer outpatient programs, and not as many pediatric mental health specialists. The list goes on. Catherine went above and beyond that night to make sure that we left with resources and tools to try and help our son. She talked to other departments for advice, and I was just so incredibly grateful to have her on our care team that night.

Fast forward, and we are back in the ER, and we can’t figure out why anxiety is making our son so sick. We have a brand-new care team, which means we need to re-explain why we’re back, what’s going on, etc. I feel like our new care team doesn’t understand why we are back so soon, so I go to sit in the hallway at the ER, just feeling defeated, and Catherine walks in for her shift. She recognizes me, and I see her, and I can’t even believe my eyes. I felt like crying. There was so much relief to see her. I explained that we were back, and she said she was going to hop onto my care team to help.

As a mother, I can only explain that moment as something I will truly remember for the rest of my life. Someone we barely knew, and she cared to help my son just as much as I did. I knew everything was going to be okay in that moment, even without knowing what the future holds. I ran into our room and told my husband, and I think we both could finally breathe. She really got things rolling; we got admitted and blood drawn, and finally, just answers. So many answers. That night with Catherine as our nurse was huge in our son’s future anxiety diagnoses and getting the help that he needed and the reassurance that nothing underlying was wrong. I truly thank the Lord for Catherine, what she was able to do for our son, and how everything from the moment we met her has led to how good he’s doing today. Words will never do justice to how much humanity, grace, love, patience, expertise, compassion, and more she showed us. I know she’s one in a million. I am so grateful for how the stars all lined up at Children’s Mercy Hospital late that night. Anyone that has the honor of having her as a nurse is in excellent hands. I’m 31 years old and have only met a nurse like her once in my life. I’m forever thankful when my son needed help, we had her.