Katie was our daytime nurse. I don't know where to begin to describe the type of nurse Katie is. Not only did she take care of our baby during this time, she also provided support for my husband and me as well as interacted with our 4-year-old daughter when she came to visit. Katie went above and beyond what was expected from her as a nurse. When our daughter had an EEG, Katie went the extra step and applied lotion to her head after the probes came off so that the glue would come off easier. She did this each day she worked. Every time medication was ordered, she told us what it was and what it did before she gave it. When an IV needed a tubing change, she double and triple checked it. After doctors made their rounds, Katie would always ask us before they came if we had anything we wanted her to check out. After they left she made sure we heard everything that was talked about and that all our questions and concerns were answered. Katie advocated for our daughter as well as for us. Katie made sure to inform us if anything changed, when lab results came back, when an echo reading was complete, etc. When our daughter had her surgery, Katie was not working that day, but she came and checked in with us to see how things were going. This was on her day off! There was another day during our stay that Katie had off, but stopped in to check on her too.
When our 4-year-old came to visit, Katie made sure there were things for her to do. She even took the time to color a picture with her. When we were moved from the PICU, Katie came to visit, not once but twice. When my husband and I talk about Katie the words that come to mind are: helpful, friendly, supportive, compassionate, knowledgeable, informative, patient, caring, and dedicated. I cannot image what our stay would have been like if we didn't have Katie. She became so much more than a nurse, she became someone we trusted and talked to, she became a friend. She will always have a very special place in our hearts and I hope she knows how much she means to us. She took outstanding care of our daughter and our family. Katie is an extraordinary nurse!