My 1-year-old son and I have been in and out of the ER three times and have been admitted twice in the past six days. We are beyond absolute physical and emotional exhaustion.

My son has been through so many pokes/ IV’s/etc. all while trying to fight off a really bad stomach virus with severe dehydration. He has been beyond exhausted from all of the poking/waking up for checks and vitals/staff coming in and out of his room-unable to get any amount of good quality sleep. I have never seen him so exhausted and upset as he was last night. I was also exhausted, emotionally drained, and worn out from these last few days.

Around 8 pm last night, he had been screaming, crying, and inconsolable for around two hours. I felt like I had tried everything. Our nurse came in, saw how I was doing, and told me to get rest and do what I needed to take care of myself. She stayed by his crib for the next few hours, trying different toys, comforting him, rubbing and patting his back, playing with him, and calming him- she stayed there until he fell asleep.

I am forever grateful for her being there for my son when I felt like I was truly past my limits. We have truly had such great care here at Dell Children’s North (especially our nurses), and I really felt like Shaylin went above and beyond for not only my son, but for me, too.