The Surgical/Trauma Intensive Care Unit at UVA will always hold such a special place in my heart. The entire team, from the nurses, techs, doctors, NPs, and everybody else in between, has been beyond amazing.

My mom had a liver transplant. After transplant, she spent 8 days in STICU before being downgraded to 5 South and eventually did get to leave UVA. It was only a brief weekend getaway to Encompass before she returned to UVA and landed her a 113-day stay in the STICU.

Her first 8-day stay in STICU was also equally as great; however, the following 113 days, we all really got to know each other, and everybody really got to know my mom. I will never be able to remember every minor detail and every single person we came into contact with, however I will do my best to show just how amazing this entire team was to my mom and to my family.

Before we start, I will apologize for how lengthy this is going to be.

Brooke L - The “ice cream lady”. You joked with my mom and let her talk about her ice cream party she was planning. You went above and beyond to call me to let me know you were moving her to 5 South and that you would be checking in on her, which you did a few days later and that brought her such joy. On her days that she was somewhat clear headed you came by and chatted with her. And on days that were beyond hard, you still came by and checked on me. If I ever see you around which I’m sure I will, you will always be the ice cream lady.

Sabrina - The days you had her, you brought such positive energy and helped her through music therapy. Your dancing and singing helped put a smile on her face that hadn’t been there for days. She held such funny jokes with you (especially the purple rubber). She looked forward to your 80’s dance parties and even tried to dance along from her bed or chair. You are an amazing, bright, bubbly person and I’m so glad we got to experience you as her nurse.

I am especially thankful that you had her on the day we transitioned to comfort care. You made sure that she was as comfortable as she could be. You talked us through the process and even pulled as many tubes and wires off to let us see our mom. I think she waited for you to leave for the day as she passed not even 10 minutes after you came in to say goodbye. Thank you for your care, I know she loved having you, as did I.

Kori F - I don’t think you ever had my mom as a direct patient, but you were charge a lot. You continued to check on us throughout both stays and you were always a listening ear when I was an emotional wreck. Thank you for your kindness.

Jackie Turner, PCT - My mom loved having you as her tech. She would talk so highly of you and how you had been there with her through it all. Even on the days she was intubated you spoke to her with such respect and kindness and I will always be so appreciative of that.

Isaiah - You were great. You listened to me when I told you she was getting worse after two or three days and that she was more confused and delirious than she had been. I know she was very testy the days you had her, but I appreciate you being so patient and kind with her.

Brandon - You were her night nurse quite a few times and did so great with her. She told us one day that “her boy” was coming back tonight so she couldn’t keep it too hot in the room because you liked it cold. She definitely went back and forth between wanting it hot as Hades or cold as Alaska, but she knew when you were there she wanted it to be cool. She loved having you as a nurse.

Marcus NP - You were one of the first people of her team I met on her second admission to the ICU. You went above and beyond to relay information to me and explain what was going on with her. Through that first week we had lots of conversations about her care and what to expect and I’m beyond thankful for that. Even on the weeks you didn’t have her you still asked how I was doing and if you could do anything. Thank you for all of your help.

Adam - You were always so good about giving me information about how she was and what was going on throughout the day. You had her many, many times. However I think most of the days you had her she was pretty out of it and it was just me and you talking across her bed or laughing about wearing the same outfit to work. I appreciate you greatly for all of your help throughout this time.

Heidi - Night shift Heidi I didn’t see you much, but when I did you were amazing you talked me through her day and how everything went and what to expect next. Thank you.

Chelsey - Oh my gosh. You went through it with her. The three nights you had her on night shift, from day one started so rocky. She was not a happy person and cussed you and yelled at you so much. But you helped joke with her and you were just so patient and listened to her and helped her through a rough time.

By day three, she was less responsive and getting worse and you helped advocate for intubation that night. Nobody called me, so when I came up after my shift and was a little taken back by her being intubated you made sure that I would be notified in the future of any procedures that were done. You made sure it was on the board to call me and from that day forward, I was called about all things.

You helped explain things that were happening and made sure that I was okay. The next week or so you came back to take care of her on day shift, and she was once again not a happy person. You continued to show so much kindness and had such patience with her during her 9-1-1 yelling and all the phone calls she made that day. Even on days you didn’t have her you came by and checked on me and her. Your care and kindness means so much to me. Thank you for all that you did for her and us.

Rafael - I can’t even count how many days you had my mom as a patient. It was many, I do know that. And unfortunately, many of those days she was not so happy. She put you through it for sure. From pulling out all of her IVs, to wanting to leave AMA, to just yelling and needing to be 1:1 monitored to make sure she didn’t pull anything out because she was so quick to remove those mitts. Sometimes, I’m not even sure how she managed to get them off.

You were so patient and so kind to her. You talked to her so nicely and explained the things you were doing even though most days she didn’t care, she just wanted you to leave her alone. You called me to give me updates throughout your days with her and made sure to vocera me the day they extubated her because I was working just so I would know.

I’m so sorry that you had her on such hard days, but I’m so thankful that she was able to see a familiar face and that you took such great care of her.

Dr. Brannigan - You started this journey with my mom as being the anesthesia attending who took care of her through her transplant surgery. You were then one of the doctors on her team in the ICU for several weeks on and off. She loved you so greatly.

She would tell me all the time that she wished you were a primary doctor because she would go to you for everything. She would say things like “Dr B said I need to get up to the chair so that’s what I need to do” or “Dr B wants me to do this, so I need to”. My personal favorite was when she was becoming increasingly confused and agitated her words were “Don’t you think about sending Dr. B in here to convince me to stay because you know I’ll listen to him”.

You were so meticulous in your care for her and always fought to ensure that even the smallest of things mattered in her care. You always asked how I was doing and if I needed anything (even if it was just in passing during my work day down in the PACU). I will always be so thankful for your care of her.

Rhys and Katt - you both were great and took such great care of her. Whether it was helping to clean her up or turn her you talked her through it and you both were always so gentle and kind. Thank you.

I know I’ve left many people out and I am so beyond sorry for that. After so many days in the hospital it’s hard to remember everybody and everything that happened.

What I do know is the entire STICU team is probably the best team at UVA and if I was to sit here and name every kindness and every positive thing someone did, we would be here all day. Your dedication for care and support to the patients and their families went above and beyond my expectations.

Thank you all for all of your kindness and support throughout this journey. I will never be able to thank you all enough or repay you for all that you have done.

Unfortunately my mom passed away after her long fight. I should have you know we had the biggest ice cream party (one that she would have loved!).

I thank you all for your care, your kindness and love through this long stay in the STICU. You were all equally amazing and as a nurse myself, I can only hope to give as much grace and kindness as you all did to me and my family during this time.

Thank you all.