Calandra is a very kind, compassionate, and skilled nurse. She handles the very difficult and often sad or frightening job of a social worker with honesty and grace. I recently observed Calandra handling a case with the mother of one of our NICU babies. This mother displayed behaviors that frightened staff, and the mother threatened Calandra herself with harm. Calandra visited with the mother in the hospital and provided her with the appropriate information and resources. Against the advice of others, Calandra compassionately chose not to request a restraining order to protect herself from the mother when she learned that the mother could not visit her baby if she did so.
The mother did visit her baby in the NICU. The baby was discharged from the NICU to the mother when it was healthy. Several weeks later, this mother contacted Calandra by phone and apologized for her behavior. They visited, and the mother revealed personal information about her upbringing that explained some of her troubling words and actions. Calandra gently told her at discharge that she was available if the mother needed any resources for her children or herself. There was a current need, and Calandra was able to recommend community resources. Calandra's kindness and skill turned this very bad situation into one beneficial to an under resourced family. I am so proud to be a coworker with Calandra in women's services.