Goedele is more than just a nurse. She is a confidante. She takes the parents into account, in addition to providing excellent care for the young babies she works with. She also does more than the usual tasks of a nurse.

When our daughter was born after an intense pregnancy and delivery, she was admitted to the NICU. This was planned in advance because our daughter needed surgery. While I was still on the operating table, our daughter went with the NICU nurses and dad to that department. As a mom, you miss a lot of information during the first few days because you are still in the maternity ward recovering.

During the short visits to the NICU, you quickly feel overwhelmed. As a result, you also miss a lot of information (because you are still in the maternity ward). After two days, Goedele was on night duty. She took the time (almost an hour) to reassure me and answer my (sometimes absurd) questions honestly. She provided perspective and clarity, something I really missed. She also offered various things (e.g., availability by phone) and really gave me the feeling that I could always turn to her. For me, as a mom, this was a huge added value

In the days that followed, she also arranged for our daughter to be cared for by trusted caregivers, which was very helpful for me as I was with her almost all the time. She also offered small things like a glass of water during a nighttime breastfeeding session or pumping session. She also encouraged me to take care of myself, and because I trusted her, I was able to leave the ward sometimes and leave my daughter safely in her hands. She was also very kind to the brothers, who sometimes had a hard time. She reassured them and answered their questions (in a child-friendly way) when they came to visit.

At the end of the hospital stay, she gave me the confidence to go home. She spoke encouraging words and also said that I could still call them for advice, 24 hours a day! That also helped when, three days later, we noticed our daughter's condition deteriorating again and were unsure what to do. After a phone call to the department, we were readmitted via the emergency room, this time to the pediatrics department. When Goedele heard this from the department doctor the next day, she spontaneously came to visit during her break to see how our daughter (and I) were doing. This gave us renewed confidence, courage, and hope.

In short, Goedele is a fantastic nurse who cares deeply not only for her patients but also for their parents. She is committed and provides clear and honest explanations about what she does. She goes above and beyond for her patients and wants above all to ensure that these very young children do not suffer. She also builds trust with the parents so that they, too, suffer as little as possible during this intense process. In addition, she also takes younger colleagues under her wing and passes on what the needs of the baby, but also of the parents, are. She responds to this extremely well. She even dares to say honestly what approach/personality a doctor has (always with great respect for her colleagues), so that we as parents can better understand certain things. She also remains honest, hopeful, and yet realistic.

Goedele does her job with a great deal of passion. She would be greatly missed, and secretly, we miss her now that we no longer see her (every day) and no longer need her care!