My grandson, 9 months old with a history of a metabolic disorder, was admitted to UVA after a severe episode of hypoxia. Needless to say, this was a very difficult time for my son, daughter-in-law, and the rest of us. Julia was with my grandson for 2 days. She was kind, professional, and had a quiet confidence that allowed us to feel a little at ease about what my grandson was going through. She never failed to address him by name, to connect with him by physical touch, and to treat him like the wonderful boy that he was.

She took time to explain what she was doing and showed compassion to my family. Sadly, my son and daughter-in-law were faced with the choice of comfort care over a possible lifetime of ventilation.... they chose comfort care. Julia quickly replaced his crib with a bed, allowing him to cuddle with his mom and dad. She obtained and administered medication to reduce his air hunger and increase his comfort. He passed peacefully in the arms of both his parents, with his grandparents at their bedside. Having a wonderful nurse like Julia does not decrease the pain and agony of loss that we feel, but our confidence in her allowed our family to focus on him without concern about his treatment. She made a difference on the hardest day of our lives.