As background, our child’s health needs can be complex.  While our child had a number of surgeries and diagnoses, he was relatively healthy until the last few years. Last year, he deteriorated into needing strong respiratory support.  Dr. da Silva and the staff then were phenomenal in treating our child.  Our child’s health has not been as good since our 2023 visit. I cannot tell you how attentive, how professional and how compassionate the staff was during our stay, and how quickly everyone responded.  They were so focused on our child’s needs while also making sure that Mom and Dad were supported as well.   

Time and again the ICU staff involved us in rounds, asked for our feedback on the plans for the day and reassured us they were listening and responding when we brought up concerns. There were some setbacks during the week (not completely unexpected) and they responded unbelievably quickly in accessing what was needed, getting bedside care and imaging and keeping our child from progressing further in this illness.  The individual staff members were so open and curious and asked lots of questions about how we do care and treatment at home. We as a team had to "MacGyver" a few things over the course of the week and Dad and I were so impressed by their cleverness and readiness to adapt to complete the mission of taking care of this child.

In addition, even though we had AMAZING nurses, more than once, we had to step out into the hall to ask a question, or our nurse had to pull someone into the room to help with care. We NEVER had the feeling that we were bothering anyone or that they were too busy to help someone who wasn't their own patient. Everyone was outstanding.  That being said, we wanted to specifically recognize some folks who stood out among many:

Donald and Tom - our initial nurses in the ER-great listeners, open minded, SO willing to listen.  Tom probably has some extra gray hairs from trying to start an IV on this kid, but he was a real trooper.

Mike - IV team member who was eventually able to get a 2nd successful IV but mentioned this was going to be a challenge going forward. He was AMAZING. 

Dr. Pinzon in ER - He wasn't sure what was going on when the initial tests started coming back negative but was open to our concerns and admitting our child (turns out the hospital is a great place to be when you do crash).

Daysi- She was a wonderfully kind lady who did the initial abdominal ultrasound and comforted our child with her demeanor and beautiful music. We saw her again in the ICU.

Mollie - IV team member who remembered us from a blood draw a few weeks back in Medical Arts and was incredibly skilled in the ICU at getting THE VERY LAST LEG VEIN available before we needed to move to a central line. 

Nurses - all were GREAT but special thanks to Amber, Selah, Jillian & Karen. Dad and I were tag teaming our time in the ICU to have one parent home with our daughter, so I know there were additional unnamed rock star staff.

Respiratory team - all so incredible at working their magic around the clock to literally keep him breathing.  Doctors Prpich and Rosenberg for helping with the pulmonary concerns and becoming new members of our care team.

Environmental services team - they were so skilled at keeping that room clean the entire week and also very sweet at interacting with our sweet child once he felt better.

Dr. Da Silva and Dr. G - were not just commended for taking care of our child but also for putting together this excellent team of educated and compassionate professionals.

The ICU is the last place anyone wants to end up, but we are so incredibly thankful to everyone who was there with us.