It’s been fourteen years since my Dad’s surgery and I still say “The doctors saved his heart. The nurses saved his life.”
The nurse understood and welcomed me to stay when I told her that I planned to stay the night. Noticing that I was exhausted, the nurse said that if I wanted to go home, she would be there at my Dad’s bedside all night. When I hesitated, she assured me that my Dad was doing well, and she promised to call me if there was any issue. Her confidence and compassion allowed me to go home and get a good night’s sleep. Anyone who has had relatives in the hospital knows the value of a good night’s sleep.
It’s an honor for me to work alongside some amazing nurses. Recently, I met a grateful mom whose son was treated for cancer. The first thing she told me was that the nurses had saved her son’s life. She loved her doctors and appreciated their contribution. It was the nurses who gave her strength to endure the highs and lows of cancer treatment. It was the nurses who walked so closely with her family that she always had hope. What a gift!
The nurse’s job is to provide care. The way they provide that care is their gift to patients and families.
Our work at Standish Foundation for Children is to ensure that healthcare providers have the tools and training they need to minimize healthcare-related pain and suffering in children. Nurses are a vital part of that work. We’re grateful to have the honor to work with such brilliant, compassionate nurses in Austin and around the world.
Thank you to all the wonderful nurses who do so many things with such great love.
Donate here to “Tame the Pain” to empower healthcare providers with tools to help kids minimize fear and pain from needles.
Regards, Andy
Andrea Standish, CCLS
President, Founder
Certified Child Life Specialist
