Katie Chishom
May 2025
Katie
Chishom
,
RN
PICU
Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center
Roseville
,
CA
United States
Just as she promised, she advocated for our 8-day-old son, who didn't have a voice, and comforted us as parents, clearly communicating what needed to happen.
My husband and I want to nominate Katie for the DAISY Award because of her tender and passionate care for our newborn son. On day 7 of our baby's life, we had to rush to the emergency room because he was cold to the touch, running a 96-degree fever, and not acting normal. When we got to the ER everything was chaotic, we then were sent to the pediatric unit and then to the PICU. As a new mom and dad, we were scared to death and so fearful we would lose our fragile son. The attending physicians were all testing for bacterial and respiratory infections. We were convinced one of those things was the problem.
The second day, the first morning we were in the hospital, I woke up to Katie coming in, teaching a nursing student, and asking us a ton of questions. I thought she was a specialist because of the way she was behaving and the amount of compassion she showed. Every nurse who came in before her took vitals and proceeded to the next room. Katie said, "We are going to figure out what is wrong with him." She spent time with him, observed him, took in all the information, and had conversations with us. She suggested it could be that he was latching but not taking in the milk; he could have been starving. She brought formula, had me pumping, and started a feeding schedule. She taught us how to bottle feed, how to pump, what to listen for when he's eating, and answered all the questions we had. She was present with us.
The day prior, the attendings attempted a lumbar puncture, but due to not getting fluid, they had to try again the day Katie was our nurse. She communicated to us that she would be our advocate, ensuring our son was taken care of and would be there to assist with the puncture. Just as she promised, she advocated for our 8-day-old son, who didn't have a voice, and comforted us as parents, clearly communicating what needed to happen. Up until we left the hospital, she would stop by and check on us. She returned to assist with the tongue-tie release on a day when we weren't her patients. Our son wasn't just a number to her but a human with a life ahead of him. I wish I could put into words the feelings, hope, clarity, and joy Katie brought into our world. I truly believe our son is alive today because she didn't just see our son as a patient who needed his vitals checked, but a little boy who needed help and a solution.
The second day, the first morning we were in the hospital, I woke up to Katie coming in, teaching a nursing student, and asking us a ton of questions. I thought she was a specialist because of the way she was behaving and the amount of compassion she showed. Every nurse who came in before her took vitals and proceeded to the next room. Katie said, "We are going to figure out what is wrong with him." She spent time with him, observed him, took in all the information, and had conversations with us. She suggested it could be that he was latching but not taking in the milk; he could have been starving. She brought formula, had me pumping, and started a feeding schedule. She taught us how to bottle feed, how to pump, what to listen for when he's eating, and answered all the questions we had. She was present with us.
The day prior, the attendings attempted a lumbar puncture, but due to not getting fluid, they had to try again the day Katie was our nurse. She communicated to us that she would be our advocate, ensuring our son was taken care of and would be there to assist with the puncture. Just as she promised, she advocated for our 8-day-old son, who didn't have a voice, and comforted us as parents, clearly communicating what needed to happen. Up until we left the hospital, she would stop by and check on us. She returned to assist with the tongue-tie release on a day when we weren't her patients. Our son wasn't just a number to her but a human with a life ahead of him. I wish I could put into words the feelings, hope, clarity, and joy Katie brought into our world. I truly believe our son is alive today because she didn't just see our son as a patient who needed his vitals checked, but a little boy who needed help and a solution.