July 2024
Sophie
Vestal
,
BSN, RN
PICU
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
Atlanta
,
GA
United States
The emotional embrace the mother gave this nurse upon seeing her was proof enough of how much she meant to the family in such a short time.
This past weekend, a three-year-old boy was on our unit and tragically passed away, and his family made the courageous decision to donate his organs to save the lives of others. Throughout the week, they were able to have this nurse as the bedside nurse overnight. She went above and beyond providing care for the family and the boy who received a bath and new pajamas every night despite the number of tubes and drains in place to work around. She exhibited incredible sensitivity, empathy, and dedication to providing comfort to a family going through the worst week in their life and I truly believe it was made easier because of this nurse. She even volunteered to pick up extra at the end of the week as the unit had needs but also because of the rapport she had built with the family. On her one day off in a stretch of 6 days, Sunday and the boy's donation day, she drove up to work to be a part of his honor walk and the ceremony in the garden afterward. The emotional embrace the mother gave this nurse upon seeing her was proof enough of how much she meant to the family in such a short time. Her commitment to providing holistic care to both the patient and the family truly embodies what it means to be a DAISY Nurse.