Sabine Westermeyer
December 2025
Sabine
Westermeyer
,
BSN, RN
Cardiovascular Cardiothoracic ICU (CVCT ICU)
UW Health University Hospital
Madison
,
WI
United States
My world (and my family’s) was turned upside down in a matter of moments.
I arrived at UW Hospital and was quickly identified as needing a heart transplant. This occurred within 10 days.
There are so many wonderful nurses, NAs, doctors, NPs, and ancillary staff who provided exceptional care for me, my husband, and my family. I wish I could name every one of them. One stands out, though…Sabine.
She cared for me during some of my darkest days. I could say a lot about her, but these are just a few things:
• Always professional and worked well with her colleagues
• Always knowledgeable. Her calmness when alarms were going off helped to calm us as well. She thoroughly answered every question we asked with patience.
• Always kind, over and above expectations. She offered to wash my hair (not just the cap). Went and found a spray nozzle, moved me to the sink, and thoroughly washed my hair. She even braided it! This meant so much. It helped me to feel more “human”.
• She encouraged me (quite strongly with kindness and humor) to walk “at least 4 times today”.
• She brought twinkle lights to put on my bathroom door, where we were placing cards I received. (Eventually filled the door!). I loved seeing those lights at night.
• She provided humor and good spirits always. Example – drew a stick man drawing of her telling me to walk 4 times per day and placed among the cards. We smiled every time we looked at it. I, of course, kept it as a memento.
• Our chats about our lives and her own were a wonderful distraction amidst all I was going through.
• Even when she was no longer caring for me, she would stop to visit (sometimes asking if I was walking, LOL)
• One day, several days post-transplant, she stopped in and asked if she could take me out to the garden. She was not my nurse anymore, but still showed such kindness and compassion for me. We had a wonderful trip to the garden (though it was 90 degrees outside). My husband and I so appreciated her thoughtfulness.
She made such a difference for my husband and me when we needed it most. We will never be able to express what a difference she made.
Thank you, Sabine. For all you did for us and for all you do for all your patients. You will not be forgotten.
I arrived at UW Hospital and was quickly identified as needing a heart transplant. This occurred within 10 days.
There are so many wonderful nurses, NAs, doctors, NPs, and ancillary staff who provided exceptional care for me, my husband, and my family. I wish I could name every one of them. One stands out, though…Sabine.
She cared for me during some of my darkest days. I could say a lot about her, but these are just a few things:
• Always professional and worked well with her colleagues
• Always knowledgeable. Her calmness when alarms were going off helped to calm us as well. She thoroughly answered every question we asked with patience.
• Always kind, over and above expectations. She offered to wash my hair (not just the cap). Went and found a spray nozzle, moved me to the sink, and thoroughly washed my hair. She even braided it! This meant so much. It helped me to feel more “human”.
• She encouraged me (quite strongly with kindness and humor) to walk “at least 4 times today”.
• She brought twinkle lights to put on my bathroom door, where we were placing cards I received. (Eventually filled the door!). I loved seeing those lights at night.
• She provided humor and good spirits always. Example – drew a stick man drawing of her telling me to walk 4 times per day and placed among the cards. We smiled every time we looked at it. I, of course, kept it as a memento.
• Our chats about our lives and her own were a wonderful distraction amidst all I was going through.
• Even when she was no longer caring for me, she would stop to visit (sometimes asking if I was walking, LOL)
• One day, several days post-transplant, she stopped in and asked if she could take me out to the garden. She was not my nurse anymore, but still showed such kindness and compassion for me. We had a wonderful trip to the garden (though it was 90 degrees outside). My husband and I so appreciated her thoughtfulness.
She made such a difference for my husband and me when we needed it most. We will never be able to express what a difference she made.
Thank you, Sabine. For all you did for us and for all you do for all your patients. You will not be forgotten.