This has taken me some time to write, as today marks one year since our son was in a bad car accident and ended up at PICU at DHMC. As we have worked to process all that has happened.

We have received excellent care throughout our son's journey, and we are so thankful that he is thriving and doing amazing. We have tons of gratitude for the Pediatric team at DHMC. Out of all the nurses, therapists, doctors, etc, there is one person who stood out to us, and who continues to whenever we think about our family’s journey. That nurse is Jordyn!

When we finally arrived at PICU, after a long and torturous night following our son’s accident, Jordyn was there. She brought a calming energy, reassurance, understanding, and obvious nursing expertise to the room. She was there for us, just as much as she was there for him. She kept us informed and updated every step of the way, encouraged us to take care of ourselves, and helped us through one of the hardest nights of our lives.

Jordyn was on the shift a few days later, and we were still in the PICU. She came to see us at the start of the shift, and we were so happy to see her. She let us know that she had been thinking about our son, and it meant so much to know she had been rooting for him. We were thrilled to tell her that he was awake.

Jordyn was his nurse that night. I was quite anxious because he hadn’t spoken yet, and was very restless. I was also going on hardly any sleep because I was nervous with him being restless. Jordyn once again brought calmness and reassurance. She kept me completely informed on the meds she was using and things we might expect with his TBI.

She was able to sit with him to help calm him, and I had so much trust in the care she gave that I finally got some sleep. Jordyn spent the whole night watching over him and encouraging him to speak while she cared for him and did his neuro checks. She was 100% invested in his progress and so incredibly kind to me. She helped us get through another challenging night.

We saw Jordyn again a few nights later, and she helped us move from PICU to a regular pediatric inpatient room. She took time to chat with us, to enjoy seeing our son awake and talking with her, and she celebrated his great progress with us.

That was a very tough night, as we moved to the new room late, and I wasn’t able to sleep in the “bed” in the room because of my back challenges. I didn’t want to bother Jordyn, who was working hard in PICU, but I felt like having her there would have helped immensely. I ended up staying elsewhere and was sad that I wouldn’t get to say goodbye to Jordyn and thank her for everything.

The next day, I was going through our belongings, and found a note that Jordyn had left for us. It was the most amazing note, and one that I still cherish. It was full of positivity, gratitude, and hope, and she said the words I needed to hear in that moment.

Jordyn exemplifies the criteria for a DAISY Award. Her way of showing concern for everyone in the family, really listening, sharing her expertise, and including us in our son's care was above and beyond. She is a highly skilled nurse who gave our son the best care.

I will be forever grateful to Jordyn for being there for us when we needed it most.