It is with great honor that I share with a you an event, although filled with sadness, was also filled with phenomenal collaboration between the PICU, House Manager, and Security team. This event provided a family with closure while honoring their child's ultimate sacrifice with organ donation.

We met our little 7-year-old patient and his family after a PRRT and subsequent code was called on PSCU for worsening neurological symptoms and airway compromise. When he came to the PICU, he was intubated, lines placed, and continuous inotropic and sedative infusions started. We completed additional testing and images, trying to determine the infection that had taken over his little body and brain. Unfortunately, over the next few hours, his neurological status continued to decline leading to a craniectomy. The infection had caused such damage that his brain continued to swell even in the midst of medical management, leading to herniation and brain death.

The devastation of their child's death was palpable throughout the unit. The family had hoped and prayed he would make a full recovery and yet now they had to face the unimaginable pain of his death. Even through the pain, they wanted to honor his life by allowing him to donate his organs to children and adults who desperately needed them. Gift of Life coordinators came to the PICU, spoke to the family, and began their work. After two days, the coordinators were able to identify recipients for his organs and the plan for the OR was set.

The family shared that there were hundreds of family, friends, and firefighters from their home town who wanted to come for his honor walk. Our PICU dayshift Charge Nurse, Bethany Cunkelman got to work, reaching out to Security to share the wishes of the family so that Security could begin to plan for an 8 pm OR time. Unfortunately, there was a delay in the OR and his donation time was pushed back to 10 pm. It was at this time we were made aware of the 200 family and friends who had arrived at the Children's Hospital to honor this little child.

Kayley Grier, PICU nightshift Charge, Lisa Caplan, House Manager, and members of the Security team came together to develop a plan to allow friends and family to participate in the honor walk while ensuring the safety of the patients in the Children's Hospital. Through many conversations with each other, a plan was made. The bedside nurses, Siobhan Mcshea and Emily Giardina, would bring the patient through the back hallway of the Children's Hospital to the main hallway of the Hospital where the family and friends could line the hallway. With Security's assistance, the 200 hundred family and friends lined the main hall of the Hospital to the Radiology elevators. Here, they were able to honor this little boy and the donation of life he was providing to others as he rolled by.

The family was immensely grateful for all of the work that went into allowing all of those special individuals to come and share in the honor walk. The collaboration between the PICU, Security, and the House Manager speaks volumes to the amazing teamwork and collaboration in ensuring the wishes of this family were met during their little boy's last moments. I am so proud of all the team members involved in making this honor walk happen and for honoring a little hero. A true DAISY Team!