It is hard to choose a specific date, time or even story to share about Stacey, but her relationship with B truly epitomizes why she is an excellent nurse. Several years ago, when B was 4 years old, he developed a heart condition that required him to have a ventricular assist device and heart transplant. From the beginning, Stacey became a primary nurse for him, and over the years she developed a special relationship with B and his family. She supported them through months of waiting for a heart transplant and through many hospitalizations and procedures that followed the transplant. She had been a nurse at Camp Braveheart for several years and encouraged him to attend when he reached the appropriate age. B became a regular at Camp Braveheart, and after his first week, he told her he "loved it all!" and his favorite part was getting red Gatorade! Camp became a special place for B, and a special time he could spend with his favorite nurse.
This past summer, only a few days before Camp Braveheart started, B was admitted to the CICU at Egleston. All who know B, and who knew his love for camp, were devastated that he couldn't attend, but probably the most disappointed was Stacey. Rather than let B completely miss the week of camp, she left camp to come to visit him in the hospital. She came, wearing her beaded camp bracelets, to be present for him and bring a little camp magic to his hospital room. She came to visit him several times after that, but she was not able to be his primary nurse in the hospital that staybecause that summer she went through several medical procedures and a hospital stay herself. On the morningof Stacey's surgery, B passed away. This was heartbreaking for Stacey, but as a friend told her, maybe it was time for B to take care of her. Following B's death, she continued to be a support for his mother and family. B's mom sent Stacey several pictures of B through the years, and despite being a child who hardly ever smiled for pictures, B is beaming in every picture he is in with Stacey. She provided the most compassionate and family-centered care for B and his family, and she truly made a difference in his life. Whether it was as his bedside nurse, his camp nurse or just as his friend, Stacey provided B with the most loving support and true nursing excellence.