I first met Chris Cullen last year, when my precious A stopped breathing and needed to be transported to Loma Linda Children's Hospital NICU. She was one of the transport nurses who arrived to transport her. From the moment she arrived, she was hands-on with my Angel and showed such compassion and love to my baby. My baby was a victim of shaken baby syndrome at the hands of her own father. Chris prayed for me and A. She showed genuine love to my baby. She would come check on A even if she wasn’t the nurse caring for her that shift. I grew a bond with her as well as my family.

Unfortunately, my baby was 100% dependent on the ventilator and had no brain activity. When the time came for me to have my baby blessed, Chris was there and helped assist my whole family in holding A and praying for her. They moved my baby to the PICU. And two days later, I had to make the heart-wrenching decision to take my baby off life support, and Chris was there. She took time from her day and came after her shift to be there with me and my baby. Knowing my baby was going to pass away was already traumatic, and I was not strong enough to watch her take her last breath. Chris took my place for me and held my sweet A and loved on her and prayed for her while she took her last breath with all my other family there. She did such a selfless act that I can never thank her enough for it.

It’s almost 8 months since A went to be with Jesus, and Chris still checks on me and my other daughters. She will always hold a special place in my heart. She did something for me when I wasn’t strong enough to do it. Her heart is pure, and her love for her job is genuine. She deserves this recognition. I can never thank her enough and hope she receives this recognition as she goes above and beyond at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital NICU not only as a NICU RN but as a Transport Nurse as well.