September 2026 Honoree
Erin Kirkpatrick, RN II, IBCLC
Erin was my wife’s nurse the day after she gave birth to our son. When she woke up in agonizing pain, far worse than labor, Erin acted quickly and calmly, ensuring her pain could be made tolerable with medication, quickly identifying the likely culprit as a hematoma, and bringing in the necessary people to confirm and get her a blood transfusion as she went into DIC.
That alone was enough to save my wife's life, but Erin did not stop there. When she had to be transferred to Maine Medical in Portland and that hospital would not admit our son, who was less than 24 hours old, Erin saw my panic as a husband and now father on whom I could best support in a scary moment. Demonstrating that empathy, she got my cell number and told me to go with my wife, with the promise of hourly updates on my son.
Despite her busy schedule, she sent me a photo and update on him every hour until I could return to him after my wife had stabilized in Portland.
Knowing we would have to discharge my son early and have me drive him to Portland to reunite him with mama, Erin patiently walked me through the basics of feeding him, changing his diaper, and soothing him, also noting his tongue-tie and recommending advice for my wife.
There is no way that I could have made it that day without Erin. To top it off, she called my wife a week later just because she was thinking of her.
I truly cannot imagine how I would’ve survived this incredibly scary day without Erin. She was always clear in communicating what she was doing and why. She was direct but calming. I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of this award.
That alone was enough to save my wife's life, but Erin did not stop there. When she had to be transferred to Maine Medical in Portland and that hospital would not admit our son, who was less than 24 hours old, Erin saw my panic as a husband and now father on whom I could best support in a scary moment. Demonstrating that empathy, she got my cell number and told me to go with my wife, with the promise of hourly updates on my son.
Despite her busy schedule, she sent me a photo and update on him every hour until I could return to him after my wife had stabilized in Portland.
Knowing we would have to discharge my son early and have me drive him to Portland to reunite him with mama, Erin patiently walked me through the basics of feeding him, changing his diaper, and soothing him, also noting his tongue-tie and recommending advice for my wife.
There is no way that I could have made it that day without Erin. To top it off, she called my wife a week later just because she was thinking of her.
I truly cannot imagine how I would’ve survived this incredibly scary day without Erin. She was always clear in communicating what she was doing and why. She was direct but calming. I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of this award.
Thank you, Erin, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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