Sarah P Kemper
January 2025
Sarah P
Kemper
,
RN
Pediatric ICU
OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

Sarah took meticulous care of her, cleaned her up, changed her IV dressings, crib sheets, and swaddled her.
My daughter was admitted to the hospital at just 4 weeks old. Needless to say, I was absolutely terrified. During her time in the hospital, there were many great nurses, but Sarah was a Godsend. After being emergently transferred to PICU from Gen Peds, I had several sleepless nights. I remember sitting up in a chair just trying to stay awake while holding my sweet little girl. I was afraid that if I put her down, her oxygen levels would drop. So I sat up, awake with her all night. Sarah came in early on in the night and recognized my need for a break. She came on shift, and it was like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Sarah took meticulous care of her, cleaned her up, changed her IV dressings, crib sheets, and swaddled her. She brought in positioning supports and a new blanket. While this all may sound like small things, I will never be able to put into words the comfort this provided me. She was also precepting at this time. Later on that night, she offered to sit and hold her while I took a nap, and that is just what she did. Little did I know, but this was the biggest blessing in the world and helped me prepare for the worst following day. A very close family friend who was also admitted passed away suddenly, and my oldest son was brought in for emergent surgery - all on the same day. If it hadn't been for the couple of hours of sleep I was able to receive that night, I do not know how I would have made it through that day. Sarah, you were our guardian angel that evening. And I am SO grateful for you. You will never know how much you helped me through that terrible day and my daughter's stay in the PICU. Thank you.