I don’t know if anyone reading this has ever experienced their child having a heart defect or being very sick, in which they could die, but let me tell you – it is a fear like no other. I gave birth, and our child immediately had to be transferred to Le Bonheur’s CVICU to help him stay alive. I can’t even explain the anxiety and despair that I felt in that moment.

When I got to Le Bonheur and was finally able to see my baby, everyone was very nice and comforting. However, one nurse stands out in particular: Brendan Jones. He is a wonderful and compassionate human being.

When he was our nurse, I always knew my baby would be taken care of, and he significantly reduced my anxiety. He has always gone above and beyond to put me at ease and let me know what’s going on.

We were in the CVICU for a long time, and we were finally able to go home last week. However, our baby got incredibly sick and is now back in the CVICU, and I always feel better knowing that Brendan is our nurse. He not only does everything he can while I’m in the room to make me more comfortable, but he always finds answers to questions and always calls me after rounds if I haven’t gotten to the hospital to let me know the plan for the day.

When Brendan is our nurse, I have a lot less anxiety and fear, and know that if anything happens, he will let me know. The sadness of having our baby back in the hospital is sometimes very overwhelming, and he helps lessen that. I can’t even begin to explain how much I appreciate him. He is a shining light in the darkness, and his patients are incredibly lucky to have him.