Carolyn Chen
January 2025
Carolyn
Chen
,
RN
Cardiac Inpatient Ward
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto
,
Ontario
Canada
She was patient and informative, and because of her, I felt the confidence to feed "I" with the bottle on my own at the next feeding time.
My baby was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She had a feeding tube and was getting her milk this way. One morning, I came in to see her, and Carolyn told me that she had tried bottle feeding my baby, "I", and that "I" had taken quite well to the bottle. Many cardiac babies have a hard time with the bottle, but Carolyn tried anyhow. Later that day, Carolyn demonstrated how she fed "I" with the bottle and even later that day she took the time to teach me how to feed "I" with the bottle. She was patient and informative, and because of her, I felt the confidence to feed "I" with the bottle on my own at the next feeding time. Because of Carolyn's teaching, I was able to get "I" to eat from the bottle. And then the next bottle and the next bottle and in two days she no longer needed the feeding tube and we were discharged without one and she continues to take the bottle well. I credit Carolyn with this. She was busy, and she not only took the time to try the bottle with "I" but she also taught me how to do it on my own. I will be forever grateful to her, and "I" who did all the work. "I" is able to enjoy her milk every day because of her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Carolyn. I will never forget you and the kindness and care you showed my baby.