Alyssa Kosjer
December 2025
Alyssa
Kosjer
,
RN
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Wesley Healthcare
Wichita
,
KS
United States
Alyssa met us in our scariest parent moments and carried us through in the strongest, gentlest, and most caring way.
Alyssa, the past couple of weeks have scared me as a mom. I can still feel the weight of the fear that stole the floor from under me those first few days in PICU. I stood beside my daughter’s bed, knowing way too much, yet still not knowing enough. I understood the machines, the meds, the numbers, labs, and protocols, but understanding didn’t protect me from feeling helpless. Being a nurse couldn’t fix my baby or take her pain away. All I could do was stand there and hope someone else would fight for her the way that I would, and then there was you!
You moved with instinct, not needing permission to care. You didn’t hesitate, not once. I watched you advocate with a fierceness we can’t learn in school and make decisions that changed the course of her care. You didn’t wait for orders, you guided them, pushed for them, and demanded them with a quiet force that only comes from someone built for this work. As a nurse, I watched you in awe, which I rarely feel. You are rare, Alyssa, rare in instinct, grit, and pure, unfiltered humanity. And somehow you juggle chaos like someone with 10 arms, and without caffeine at that! Just you and the lemon-lime soda that powers your heart. I swear I’ll never look at Starry the same way again. Maybe it’s because you don’t run on energy drinks like the rest of us. You run on purpose. You are the kind of nurse who doesn’t wait to be asked, who doesn’t need approval to fight for your patients, who steps in before anyone else moves, and who was everything I needed even though I didn’t know how to ask. And as a mom, I will never forget that!
Every patient needs an Alyssa, a nurse who listens to her instincts and advocates like nobody’s business. You will forever be a part of our story. Hopefully next time it won’t be as a terrified mom, but as a friend, preferably over a margarita (or you know, a Starry)! Thank you for being you!
***
My son was in the PICU back-to-back for about 2.5 weeks. He is extremely complex. He is not one to take your eyes off for very long. Alyssa was my nurse most of the time on our second stay. She paid attention to every detail of our home regimen for meds, Farrell bag, diaper rash prevention, and positioning for my son to not desat. She supported me when I would get upset. She has been one of the only nurses (maybe the only) who could properly cath him without pain in over 2 years. She listened to all my concerns, suggestions, and questions and made sure to answer them or find out who could answer them. She was also teaching college students and working many days in a row before a holiday off. I felt I could trust her with my son. I knew she would follow all of the important details, so we didn't end up with more stomach issues, desaturation, diaper rashes, dehydration, or anything else that we try to prevent on a daily basis.
Thank you so much to Alyssa, and for someone I can feel comfortable having take care of my son and have his best interests in mind when he is nonverbal.
***
Alyssa was our nurse for our first day in PICU when we were suddenly transferred into PICU the night before because our 8-week-old son had some critically low blood levels. The night was spent trying to establish an IV and get blood for crucial labs. The next morning and through the entire rest of the day, our baby was continually worked on to still try to establish a working IV for blood draws. Throughout the day, the tension, stress, and fear continued to mount for us as his parents.
Through all of this, Alyssa walked alongside us with the utmost care and effort to ensure our baby was getting the best care possible, and so were we as his parents. Alyssa took time to comfort our son, answer every question we had, and explain each new thing coming our way. After a very long, scary, and mostly unsuccessful day, Alyssa took extra time to ensure our room was tidy and clean and that we were transferred to the night crew with the most gentle and intentional care she could have given. Alyssa met us in our scariest parent moments and carried us through in the strongest, gentlest, and most caring way.
You moved with instinct, not needing permission to care. You didn’t hesitate, not once. I watched you advocate with a fierceness we can’t learn in school and make decisions that changed the course of her care. You didn’t wait for orders, you guided them, pushed for them, and demanded them with a quiet force that only comes from someone built for this work. As a nurse, I watched you in awe, which I rarely feel. You are rare, Alyssa, rare in instinct, grit, and pure, unfiltered humanity. And somehow you juggle chaos like someone with 10 arms, and without caffeine at that! Just you and the lemon-lime soda that powers your heart. I swear I’ll never look at Starry the same way again. Maybe it’s because you don’t run on energy drinks like the rest of us. You run on purpose. You are the kind of nurse who doesn’t wait to be asked, who doesn’t need approval to fight for your patients, who steps in before anyone else moves, and who was everything I needed even though I didn’t know how to ask. And as a mom, I will never forget that!
Every patient needs an Alyssa, a nurse who listens to her instincts and advocates like nobody’s business. You will forever be a part of our story. Hopefully next time it won’t be as a terrified mom, but as a friend, preferably over a margarita (or you know, a Starry)! Thank you for being you!
***
My son was in the PICU back-to-back for about 2.5 weeks. He is extremely complex. He is not one to take your eyes off for very long. Alyssa was my nurse most of the time on our second stay. She paid attention to every detail of our home regimen for meds, Farrell bag, diaper rash prevention, and positioning for my son to not desat. She supported me when I would get upset. She has been one of the only nurses (maybe the only) who could properly cath him without pain in over 2 years. She listened to all my concerns, suggestions, and questions and made sure to answer them or find out who could answer them. She was also teaching college students and working many days in a row before a holiday off. I felt I could trust her with my son. I knew she would follow all of the important details, so we didn't end up with more stomach issues, desaturation, diaper rashes, dehydration, or anything else that we try to prevent on a daily basis.
Thank you so much to Alyssa, and for someone I can feel comfortable having take care of my son and have his best interests in mind when he is nonverbal.
***
Alyssa was our nurse for our first day in PICU when we were suddenly transferred into PICU the night before because our 8-week-old son had some critically low blood levels. The night was spent trying to establish an IV and get blood for crucial labs. The next morning and through the entire rest of the day, our baby was continually worked on to still try to establish a working IV for blood draws. Throughout the day, the tension, stress, and fear continued to mount for us as his parents.
Through all of this, Alyssa walked alongside us with the utmost care and effort to ensure our baby was getting the best care possible, and so were we as his parents. Alyssa took time to comfort our son, answer every question we had, and explain each new thing coming our way. After a very long, scary, and mostly unsuccessful day, Alyssa took extra time to ensure our room was tidy and clean and that we were transferred to the night crew with the most gentle and intentional care she could have given. Alyssa met us in our scariest parent moments and carried us through in the strongest, gentlest, and most caring way.