Sandra was one of my son’s nurses in the NICU after he was born early at 31 weeks and 5 days. Given my largely uncomplicated pregnancy, an early delivery and NICU stay was the last thing I was expecting. As first-time parents, my husband and I struggled with feeling like we were missing out on special early newborn moments, and had questions, worries, and sadness about leaving our baby in the NICU day after day. Anytime we know that Sandra is his nurse for the day, it instantly relaxes us.

We visit our son everyday, and Sandra has played a huge role in helping us still get special moments. For example, on my husband’s birthday we asked her to take a picture of us with him, and she recorded a video singing happy birthday in the background- something we wouldn’t have thought of, but something we will cherish. She shares stories with us about the times that we aren’t able to be there so we still get to learn about our son’s day - a funny favorite that she shared was about how he had PT one day and had a huge blowout that sprayed the back counter shocking everyone.

She also always takes the time to help us feel capable as first-time parents and like we can lead in his care when we’re there - for example, she’s helped us learn how to disconnect and reattach our sons lead wires so we can independently change his diapers/clothes without needing to ask for a nurse every time - something that is important to us. She helped me give my son his first bottle and was so encouraging the entire time - when he unexpectedly finished the entire bottle we could hear her bragging about him to other nurses in the pod - it brought smiles to our faces knowing how thrilled and invested she was in his progress. She’s also taken the time to hear our worries and share her experience as a parent whose children were also in the NICU.

I could go on and on about Sandra, but I’ll end with this—she has a mentee, a new nursing grad, and she’s stressed the importance to her mentee about treating the babies as if they are your own family members to make sure you go above and beyond for each and every one of them something she backs up with her actions every day. She is so deserving of this Award.