A letter from Misty

There are few people in the world like Misty.  She took care of Caroline and Will during their PICU stay but she was so much more than just their nurse.  She was there when Caroline left to go to the hospital floor and Will stayed in the PICU.  She was there through procedures and hard days and difficult conversations.  She was there when Will smiled and when he had good days.  She was there on the day Will took his last breath.  She helped me understand conversations I had with doctors after they left, fought for Will and rejoiced in even the smallest victories.  She is a wonderful nurse, from her famous bath to the way she organized Will's room and administered medications, she did everything perfectly and with love.  But what made her so special were the things she did above and beyond her nursing tasks.  She really cared, she answered all of my questions honestly and had genuine compassion.  She made Will a CD of Disney lullabies to listen to and checked on him even on days he wasn't her patient.  There were many days I know she had a long list of things to do, but instead she sat in Will's room and just talked to me while Will slept.  We talked a lot about Will but also just about life.  I learned about her family and her faith and I trusted her more than anyone in the PICU.  She became part of Will's, part of our, family forever and we will always be grateful for her.  Every time I read the letter she wrote to Will {below} I get tears in my eyes because I am overcome with thankfulness for her and I am also so proud of Will for being able to make such an impact on someone's life .  Thank you, Misty - we love you!

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Sweet Will,

​If I could count the times I’ve thought about you, and your amazing family I could probably create a new number. There are many people that we meet in our lifetime who make lasting impressions, impacts, or imprints on us. Each has a different story, some of our stories continue being edited daily and some are written deep in our heart, and hopefully will never be edited or erased. I always get asked how I am able to do my job, that it must be so hard. But, I think of the special trusting relationships and the loving bonds I build with my patients and their families, and I always answer with, “I can’t imagine doing anything else”.  I met you shortly after you and your sister came to the PICU, I still remember hearing your nurse call to me, “Hey Misty, I think he’s having SVT” (that’s a type of really fast heart rate). I walked in and saw your dad standing in the corner, he looked worried, and you did in fact have that fast heart rate. I helped your nurse stabilize your heart rate, and told your dad that we were going to run some tests and that the doctor was going to start some new medications to help your heart. I wasn’t your bedside nurse until you had faced ECMO, and your parents had walked through some of the scariest days of yours and Caroline’s hospital stay. I would watch you from her room as I cared for her, gave her medications, and even washed her once she was stable enough to really get a bath. Once she was able to leave the PICU, I watched as your mom brought her to your bedside to see you, you were still so sick, on the loud ventilator, but fighting like a little warrior. I remember the look on your mom’s face, she was scared to leave you, but was happy that your sister could graduate out of the PICU. My heart hurt for her, I knew that she and your dad would have a difficult time trying to be in two places at once.

I loved being your nurse. You kept such a sweet angelic face and even a gentle smile while you endured the medicine, IVs, procedures, dialysis, and extensive nursing care. You were my “why”. Your dad and I would talk about Disney trips, so of course Disney classics and lullabies had to fill the room. I remember giving you my famous bath and putting the blue sleeper on you, and using the star blanket (it was my favorite of yours because I called you my superstar), I may have taken a picture, but I’ll never tell the truth. I was so happy for your family to see you dressed. I loved keeping faith with them, and praying silently while they watched you sleep. And your sweet grandmother, she would read books to you, she was nervous of all of the equipment, but she knew that reading to you and letting you hear her voice was comforting, both for you and her.

As your hospital stay lengthened, and you started facing some more challenging days, I had my concerns, and fears. I never let you or your family know my worries. I would pray and hold back tears. You were so special to me. You ARE so special to me. Then the day came that I feared, your family started asking me difficult questions…. You are so loved. You and your family have stayed on my mind since that day. I didn’t want to leave the hospital. I sat in my car for a while before I drove away. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your care, thank you for that sweet smile, thank you for coming into my life and sharing with me your family of ultimate faith, unwavering love and selfless giving. Will, your strength and fight will be a “why” that I tell future nurses about to encourage them, and remind them that no matter the length of time you know someone, you can have an impact on their life, but more importantly they can have a lasting impact on yours. 

With love,
Misty

Will with his blue sleeper and star blanket - little superstar :)