Rose Vargas, BSN, RN

We had to bring my daughter to urgent care because she wasn’t feeling well. Before we even arrived, she was already scared because she knew they might have to swab her for strep throat. By the time we got inside, her nerves had completely taken over. She was so anxious, and as her parent, it’s heartbreaking to see your child that scared. I tried my best to comfort her, but nothing seemed to calm her down.

Then Nurse Rose stepped in, and I truly can’t express how grateful I am for her. She noticed my daughter was holding her Snoopy stuffed animal and immediately met her at her level. Rose gently said, “Let me swab Snoopy first.” She swabbed Snoopy and then had my daughter helped swab Snoopy again.

In that moment, everything changed. My daughter started to relax and feel safe. Because of Rose’s kindness, patience, and creativity, she was able to swab my daughter quickly and gently—without a single tear. What could have been a really scary experience for my child turned into something manageable and even a little comforting.

Rose didn’t stop there. She walked us to our room, showed my daughter Snoopy’s “strep throat sample,” and even pretended to scan Snoopy’s bracelet like a real patient. She went completely above and beyond to make my daughter feel included, safe, and brave.

As a parent, moments like that mean everything. Watching someone treat your child with that much compassion and care is something I will never forget. Kids getting swabbed is hard, and what Rose did for my daughter was truly incredible.

I am beyond thankful for her kindness and the way she turned such a scary moment into one filled with comfort and trust.