Katelyn Pubentz, BSN, RN

My micro-preemie baby was born unexpectedly at 23 weeks. No one could have prepared me for the journey that I was going to embark on. When my son was born, I was heartbroken, and initially I blamed myself for his early birth and would cry and constantly think about what I could have done differently. I met Katelyn Pubentz as she was working with my son. I initially saw her as one of his nurses, ensuring that he got the care that he needed to improve; however, not only was she here to care for my son, but she was here to support and guide me along the way.

Katelyn became more than just my son's nurse; Katelyn made me feel as though she was caring for her own child. She remained professional but at the same time still made each and every interaction personal. Katelyn educated me, made me aware of risks and procedures, and advocated for my son and me when I may have been too weak and/or too sad. She provided opportunities to make sure I was involved in my son's routine care, making me feel like I was my son's mother, even though I was limited in how I was able to care for him due to being a micro-preemie.

There were days when things became stressful; Katelyn would sit with me, reassure me, and encourage me to be strong, take care of myself, and make sure I remembered to pour into myself, as I was important as my son was. Katelyn advocated for my son's well-being, especially during those rough days when he was not feeling well. I see Katelyn as more than my son’s nurse but more like family. The care that is provided to my son makes me feel confident to be able to go home and take time for myself when needed, because I know he is in great hands. I look forward to seeing Katelyn and her spunk and eagerness as my son's primary care nurse.

I remember early on when my son seemed okay on the surface, but during my son's assessment, she checked his temperature and noticed that he seemed colder than normal. She reassured me by providing all the information she had but also prepping me for some possibilities. She rechecked his temperature several times within a 5-minute time frame, and because my son's temperature continued to go down, she notified the doctors, and tests were run. The tests revealed he had E. coli and a UTI infection. My son was not showing signs he was sick, but due to her quick observation and assessment, Katelyn caught the infection early, which allowed my son to receive medication to help fight this infection.

During that time, it was scary, and I was heartbroken because, again, I blamed myself, and Katelyn reassured me that it was not my fault and took the time to support me in those moments when I was scared. She met me where I was at each and every day. During this admission, I see the countless times Katelyn has made this journey less painful by listening and answering all of my questions and concerns, regardless of whether I asked the same thing more than once. She has made sure to get to know me as a person, personalize my son's room, and has kept a keepsake of little things to show the incredible strides my son has taken along the way. Katelyn never makes me feel rushed, always listens, makes me smile, especially when needed, and ultimately has made this experience less stressful. Katelyn has taught me to live in the moment by taking the small wins as big victories and understanding that there may be setbacks, but we continue to stay positive.

To be honest, the entire staff has made sure that both my son and I are prioritized, heard, and seen. Words can not express how deeply grateful I am to have a great team and nurse who support my son on his journey home. I owe so much to Katelyn and the team, and I know I would not have been able to get through the days without the support and care that Katelyn has provided me. I see Kaitlyn as one of the superheroes who ensures that my son continues to meet those milestones necessary for me to bring my baby, my son, home. Thank you for being brave and always going above and beyond daily.