Sophie was a normal, healthy 2 year old until she got sick, her parents thought their two-year-old daughter Sophie was suffering from allergies.
She was struggling to breathe and her doctor suspected asthma. But it would soon be clear that the situation was much worse.
Sophie was scheduled to have an allergy test a few days later. But she never got to take the test. She stopped breathing one night.
It’s every parent’s nightmare. Her parents ran to call an ambulance. Minutes later they were on their way to the hospital.
It was only then that the doctors could confirm that Sophie was suffering from something much worse than asthma and allergies.
Doctors discovered a softball-sized mass in little Sophie’s chest. She had developed T-cell lymphoma. Cancer. The young girl was suddenly in the fight of her life.
Sadly, aggressive chemotherapy failed to stop her cancer from spreading. The treatments impacted Sophie’s ability to walk, talk, use her hands and eat.
As little Sophie fought for her life, her parents spent countless hours by her daughter’s side in the hospital.
Sophie’s mom, kept constant watch by her daughter’s side.
In this chaotic and difficult situation, the mother noticed a special nurse try so hard to go unnoticed. But Shelby was watching.
Dear Peds Nurses,
(And incredible nurse techs!)
“I see you. I sit on this couch all day long and, I see you. You try so hard to be unnoticed by me and my child.
I see your face drop a little when she sees you and cries. You try so many ways to ease her fears and win her over.
I see you hesitate to stick her or pull bandaids off. You say ‘No owies’ and ‘I’m sorry’ more times in one day than most people say ‘thank you’.
“I see all of those rubber bracelets on your arms and wrapped around your stethoscope, each one for a child that you’ve cared for and loved.
I see you carrying arm loads of medicine and supplies into one child’s room all while your phone is ringing in your pocket from the room of another.
I see you put on gloves and a mask and try not to make too much noise at night.
I see you sorting piles of beads so you can give them to your patient to add to their ever growing milestone necklace.
I see you stroke her little bald head and tuck her covers around her tightly.
I see you holding the crying mom that got bad news.
I see you trying to chart on the computer while holding the baby whose mom can’t-or won’t be at the hospital with her.
“You put aside what’s happening in your life for 12 hours straight to care for very sick and sometimes dying children.
You go into each room with a smile no matter what’s happening in there.
You see Sophie’s name on the schedule and come to check on us even when she isn’t your patient.
You call the doctor, blood bank, and pharmacy as many times as necessary to get my child what she needs in a timely manner.
You check on me as often as you check on her.
You sit and listen to me ramble for 10 minutes even though your phone is buzzing and your to do list is a mile long.
“I see you using your phone as a template to paint the perfect cartoon character on the new kid’s window.
I see you cheering so enthusiastically for the kid taking laps around the nurses station.
I see you with that Nerf gun hiding from the kid around the corner.
I see you hold tiny hands, change dirty sheets, translate medical talk for parents, and wipe your eyes coming out of a particularly hard room.
I see you put on gloves, masks, and a gown then pause before you hang an IV bag of poison chemo for my kid.
I see you.
We all see you.
No amount of snack baskets or cards can fully express how appreciated you are. You are Jesus to us every single day. Our children wouldn’t get what they need without you. Moms like me wouldn’t feel sane or heard without you. You save our babies and we couldn’t do this without you.
Love,
A mom that sees all you do and loves you dearly for it”.
Sadly, Sophie never got the chance to grow old and say ‘thank you’ to all the nurses who fought to keep her alive.
Her tiny body just couldn’t handle all the treatments and the aggressive cancer. Sophie passed away in her parents arms.
Share on behalf of Sophie, to thank all the amazing nurse out there. Your care can never be repaid in full in this life, but maybe your true reward is in the next. x