Kari Fo
November 2025
Kari
Fo
,
RN
ICU
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
Gresham
,
OR
United States
Kari had spent three weeks with my family and my son. She knew us, she loved us, and she cared for us as you would your own family.
Z developed pneumonia. He was barely breathing and was immediately intubated. I arrived in Portland to meet an amazing group of people. Z was a heavy smoker of both cigarettes and marijuana. Z subsequently developed a necrotic staff infection in his lungs as well as sepsis, followed by acidosis. I won’t revisit the horrors of Z’s last three weeks for you here.
Dr. H and Dr. M were incredible, and I believe they tried valiantly to save my son. The nursing staff was quite remarkable as well. Kari is the most wonderful (seems like an insignificant word for what she really is) nurse I have ever met. Kari knew how important it was for me that Z didn’t suffer, and she so embraced that effort with kind and loving vigilance. I was always extremely moved by everyone’s graciousness and compassion. Without their support, especially Kari’s, I would not have been able to get up every day and face what was happening to my son.
I would also like to acknowledge A, who was amazing as well. Kari was supposed to be off duty on the day, Sunday, that Z passed away. The day before, Saturday, we knew Z’s death was imminent. That Saturday evening, Kari hugged me goodbye, wished me well, and I left the hospital that night. I never expected to see her again.
On Sunday morning, I arrived in the ICU to find Kari had come to work on her day off to be with us. I’ve never encountered this kind of dedication from any other employee of any other hospital, company, etc. Kari stayed with us that whole day. Kari had spent three weeks with my family and my son. She knew us, she loved us, and she cared for us as you would your own family. Her skill, knowledge, and dedication as a nurse are without question. Her honesty and integrity are evident in her every action and word. It was also evident that she, too, wanted Z to survive. I am forever grateful that Kari and the team stood beside us through our horrific experience. I highly encourage the committee to bestow this award upon Kari. Z would be very pleased. Bless you all for the difficult work you do.
Dr. H and Dr. M were incredible, and I believe they tried valiantly to save my son. The nursing staff was quite remarkable as well. Kari is the most wonderful (seems like an insignificant word for what she really is) nurse I have ever met. Kari knew how important it was for me that Z didn’t suffer, and she so embraced that effort with kind and loving vigilance. I was always extremely moved by everyone’s graciousness and compassion. Without their support, especially Kari’s, I would not have been able to get up every day and face what was happening to my son.
I would also like to acknowledge A, who was amazing as well. Kari was supposed to be off duty on the day, Sunday, that Z passed away. The day before, Saturday, we knew Z’s death was imminent. That Saturday evening, Kari hugged me goodbye, wished me well, and I left the hospital that night. I never expected to see her again.
On Sunday morning, I arrived in the ICU to find Kari had come to work on her day off to be with us. I’ve never encountered this kind of dedication from any other employee of any other hospital, company, etc. Kari stayed with us that whole day. Kari had spent three weeks with my family and my son. She knew us, she loved us, and she cared for us as you would your own family. Her skill, knowledge, and dedication as a nurse are without question. Her honesty and integrity are evident in her every action and word. It was also evident that she, too, wanted Z to survive. I am forever grateful that Kari and the team stood beside us through our horrific experience. I highly encourage the committee to bestow this award upon Kari. Z would be very pleased. Bless you all for the difficult work you do.