Cherie Walker is a name that will forever be imprinted on our lives as the most compassionate and best NICU nurse that we could ever imagine. If it weren't for her, I feel our NICU experience would have been much different. It was Cherie who advocated for our baby and provided the absolute best care imaginable. When obtaining IV access wasn't working, what was looking like a central line placement and NG tube feedings for our baby were completely prevented, all because of what we feel was Cherie's strong nursing skills, patient advocacy, and compassionate care. We were in the NICU for some issues with low blood sugar readings. Our goal was to prevent tube feedings and a central line if at all possible, and she made that happen. It was rocky at first, but she advocated for us to the providers that she truly felt we could get his blood sugar up with oral feedings. She ensured he was eating at the exact times he needed to and finishing every last drop of his bottle. We felt that she truly cared about our baby and believed in him, and with her care, we were finally able to get his blood sugars up and stabilized without any further interventions.

I truly believe if she hadn't worked so hard to keep his blood sugar up, our NICU stay would have been extended and much more complicated. We so appreciated her hard work, dedication to her patient, and timely communication with the providers caring for our son, as well as us. We had a few other set backs, including an elevated bilirubin level that Cherie also provided great, compassionate, timely care for.

We were extremely anxious to get home for Christmas to be with our other son as a family, and Cherie was a huge part of making that happen. She even took the time to help us with a small Christmas photo shoot during our time in the NICU that we will never forget and now have to cherish every Christmas. We feel that all the thank-you's in the world wouldn't suffice for how cared for and loved we all felt from Cherie as our NICU nurse. Cherie, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You were truly put on this earth to care for others, and we are forever appreciative that we had the honor of having you as our NICU nurse.