Kelly E Mathis
December 2024
Kelly E
Mathis
,
RN, BSN
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Monroe Carell Junior Children's Hospital & Clinics
Nashville
,
TN
United States
For nearly twelve hours on that day, Kelly never once sat down. I don't think she even took a break.
On the second day of my daughter's (5 days old, S) stay at Vanderbilt Children's, she was by all indications dying. Her blood pressure was dropping, her blood sugar level was dropping, and her oxygen was dropping. As a father, there is no worse feeling than watching this happen and feeling helpless. I would do anything to save my daughter, but I do not have the knowledge or training to intervene. However, Kelly does have the training and knowledge.
More importantly, though, she has the passion and compassion. I watched in utter awe as Kelly worked around the clock, tirelessly and gracefully flying around the room as she changed out IVs, took blood samples, and administered oxygen. Now, all the nurses here are incredible, but what stood out about Kelly was the sheer depth of her compassion and how it manifested in her work ethic; she cared about my child as much as I do, despite having just met her, and she would take care of my daughter as I would have. To me, that's what makes a nurse worthy of such recognition as a DAISY Award: someone who is not only technically and intellectually skilled but also deeply compassionate, possessing that unteachable quality of genuine care for other people such that they will give everything they have to see their health improve.
For nearly twelve hours on that day, Kelly never once sat down. I don't think she even took a break. She devoted every second to saving my daughter's life, and she did so with grace, love, and a smile. And as I watched Kelly work, I knew my daughter was going to be OK, and what a blessing that was. What a gift Kelly gave me and my wife that day. Not just the act of saving our daughter but the certainty of it in the moment. I recognize and appreciate that this hospital is full of the best nurses in the nation, but still, Kelly stands out. I've never encountered anybody (in any field!) who works as hard as she does and with such unerring compassion. I will always be grateful to Kelly for the rest of my life for what she did that day, and it would mean a lot to me, personally, if the hospital would join me in that recognition. Kelly Mathis saved a life that means everything to me, and Kelly saved that life as if it meant everything to her, too.
More importantly, though, she has the passion and compassion. I watched in utter awe as Kelly worked around the clock, tirelessly and gracefully flying around the room as she changed out IVs, took blood samples, and administered oxygen. Now, all the nurses here are incredible, but what stood out about Kelly was the sheer depth of her compassion and how it manifested in her work ethic; she cared about my child as much as I do, despite having just met her, and she would take care of my daughter as I would have. To me, that's what makes a nurse worthy of such recognition as a DAISY Award: someone who is not only technically and intellectually skilled but also deeply compassionate, possessing that unteachable quality of genuine care for other people such that they will give everything they have to see their health improve.
For nearly twelve hours on that day, Kelly never once sat down. I don't think she even took a break. She devoted every second to saving my daughter's life, and she did so with grace, love, and a smile. And as I watched Kelly work, I knew my daughter was going to be OK, and what a blessing that was. What a gift Kelly gave me and my wife that day. Not just the act of saving our daughter but the certainty of it in the moment. I recognize and appreciate that this hospital is full of the best nurses in the nation, but still, Kelly stands out. I've never encountered anybody (in any field!) who works as hard as she does and with such unerring compassion. I will always be grateful to Kelly for the rest of my life for what she did that day, and it would mean a lot to me, personally, if the hospital would join me in that recognition. Kelly Mathis saved a life that means everything to me, and Kelly saved that life as if it meant everything to her, too.