We arrived at the ER on Thanksgiving Day, with our 7-year-old, S. She had experienced a sudden onset of symptoms, including severe nausea and vomiting, high fever, fatigue, chills, and cough. She could not keep even one ML of Tylenol down, so it became apparent that we would need an IV for Zofran and fluids.  Our nurse, Katie J., talked S through each step of the IV process in the most masterful way. She described the special "blue lines" (veins) that give us a new way to get medicine, the "Elsa spray" (numbing spray) that made everything cold, and the special cast that she could decorate with stickers. She said that "big girls" graduate to needing the special "blue tube" (rather than the yellow tube for babies).  By the end of her description, S seemed genuinely excited to get the IV rather than afraid of it. I was dumbfounded.  I have never seen a more beautiful job of communicating with a child in a language that resonated with her. S was afraid, weak, and in pain, and Katie not only delivered the care she needed but also eased her through her excellent communication skills. She didn't try to hide the truth or avoid difficult parts of the process. Instead, she provided an honest, step-by-step description of what would happen, using language that made sense to my first grader.

I am a law professor, and I talk to my students about the importance of always communicating with your audience in mind. I wish all of my law students could have watched Katie J. and her expertise in this skill.  And on Thanksgiving, my family and I are incredibly thankful for Katie J., as well as others who helped get S feeling better.  We ultimately learned she has mycoplasma pneumonia and had to be admitted overnight, but she is doing better now, thanks to your wonderful team. We thank you so much and hope that you all know how much we appreciate your help during our time of need.