June 2026 Honoree
Bridget McNamara, BSN, RN, TCRN, CEN
| There are moments in life that divide time into "before" and "after." For me, one of those moments came with a phone call about my daughter. As a nurse, I have spent years caring for others during their most difficult days. I thought that knowledge would prepare me for anything. But when it was my child, everything I knew seemed to disappear. Fear took over. My nursing judgment vanished beneath the weight of being a mother, and I felt completely helpless. In the middle of that fear stood two extraordinary nurses, but one in particular became my hero. Before I could even reach my daughter and understand exactly what was happening, Bridget McNamara was on the phone with me. While my mind raced through every worst-case scenario imaginable, she remained calm, steady, and present. She walked me through what to expect, what could happen next, and the resources available to help my daughter. She answered questions I didn't even know how to ask. More importantly, she cared for me. As I questioned every decision I had ever made as a mother, she gently reminded me that what was happening was not my fault. She reassured me that this situation did not mean I had failed my child. In a moment when I felt overwhelmed by guilt and fear, she gave me something priceless: hope. What my daughter was experiencing was one of my worst nightmares. Yet Bridget never left my side. She promised she would be there through every step, and she kept that promise. She prepared me for the possibility of hospitalization, educated me on how to support my daughter, and guided me through a healthcare system that often lacks adequate pediatric mental health resources. Her expertise as a pediatric trauma nurse was remarkable, but it was her compassion that changed everything. Because of her guidance, support, and unwavering presence, my daughter is alive today. She is happy, healthy, and receiving the ongoing care she needs. Bridget helped save my daughter, but she also saved me. She carried me through one of the most frightening experiences of my life when I could not find the strength to carry myself. People often think heroes wear capes. Mine wore scrubs. No words will ever fully express my gratitude for what she did for my family, but I hope this nomination helps honor the incredible nurse, advocate, educator, and human being she is. Our hospital, our community, and families like mine are better because of her. We need her. |
Thank you, Bridget, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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