Hanna Drake
September 2024
Hanna
Drake
,
RN
NICU
UW Health American Family Children's Hospital
Madison
,
WI
United States
When we tell you Hanna saved our lives, we mean it.
For the last two years, my husband and I have been trying to figure out how to receive many DAISY nominations each. We could never show enough gratitude for our son's nurse, Hanna.
Our son was transported by MedFlight to Madison; we really had no clue what was happening. The waiting felt like days, but after several hours in a waiting room, we learned the horrifying diagnosis. Our son was braindead, and it was believed he had been shaken at daycare. As parents navigating COVID restrictions, investigation interviews, and handfuls of meetings with medical professionals, the only eyes that felt safe were Hanna's. We spent 4 days at UW and we had a few wonderful nurses, Hanna was our saving grace. The amount of patience, compassion, and kindness soon turned into a genuine love for our son.
When we tell you Hanna saved our lives, we mean it. At the darkest moments of our lives, Hanna was a ray of sunshine. When it was time to remove support, she did everything she could to make sure she could work a double and support us through the night. When we were reminded we wouldn't be able to stay the night, Hanna looked us both in the eyes and said, "I'm not leaving his side." She held his photo and sat on the bed with him as we left the hospital. He was safe, and we know in our hearts that she didn't leave him alone.
We are forever grateful for Hannah and all the UW staff. We would have never expected to cross paths with anyone from the hospital again. A week later, unmasked, I recognized the eyes that got me through the most difficult days. I had never seen Hanna without a mask on, but as soon as she walked into our son’s visitation, I burst into tears. We locked eyes, and I knew it was our son's saving grace. Hanna is our definition of an angel that walks the earth. It takes a strong person to work in a children's hospital, especially NICU, but she found her calling because without her, there would only be darkness, and every family supporting their child in the hospital need nurses like Hanna to shine some light into their hearts. Thank you, Hanna & the UW staff.
Our son was transported by MedFlight to Madison; we really had no clue what was happening. The waiting felt like days, but after several hours in a waiting room, we learned the horrifying diagnosis. Our son was braindead, and it was believed he had been shaken at daycare. As parents navigating COVID restrictions, investigation interviews, and handfuls of meetings with medical professionals, the only eyes that felt safe were Hanna's. We spent 4 days at UW and we had a few wonderful nurses, Hanna was our saving grace. The amount of patience, compassion, and kindness soon turned into a genuine love for our son.
When we tell you Hanna saved our lives, we mean it. At the darkest moments of our lives, Hanna was a ray of sunshine. When it was time to remove support, she did everything she could to make sure she could work a double and support us through the night. When we were reminded we wouldn't be able to stay the night, Hanna looked us both in the eyes and said, "I'm not leaving his side." She held his photo and sat on the bed with him as we left the hospital. He was safe, and we know in our hearts that she didn't leave him alone.
We are forever grateful for Hannah and all the UW staff. We would have never expected to cross paths with anyone from the hospital again. A week later, unmasked, I recognized the eyes that got me through the most difficult days. I had never seen Hanna without a mask on, but as soon as she walked into our son’s visitation, I burst into tears. We locked eyes, and I knew it was our son's saving grace. Hanna is our definition of an angel that walks the earth. It takes a strong person to work in a children's hospital, especially NICU, but she found her calling because without her, there would only be darkness, and every family supporting their child in the hospital need nurses like Hanna to shine some light into their hearts. Thank you, Hanna & the UW staff.