Open letter to all of
the extraordinary nurses, doctors, and many staff who work tirelessly at the
Sydney Childrens Hospital, in Randwick.
Heartfelt thanks from
we, the parents of one of your recent patients, Audrey, who spent four nights
in the Intensive Care Unit in your hospital less than two weeks ago. Our three
week old daughter was transferred from our local hospital, to the ICU at Sydney
Childrens Hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning 29th May, with
severe bronchiolitis.
What was a very overwhelming
experience for my husband and I, was made endurable with the sensitivity and
reassurance from the NETS ambulance staff, of whom we owe a huge dept of
gratitude, and the amazing doctors and nurses who received Audrey at the ICU.
Particular thanks to the nurses who looked after our baby on her first day
there – Carly, and then Kate - as it was their upbeat nature, sensitivity, and
competence that gave us the strength and confidence we needed to be there for
our little girl. Truly amazing women.
And to all of the
doctors who treated Audrey, and the nurses who cared for her, thank you so very
much! The support we received from the amazing staff in the ICU was second to
none, and the beautiful nature of the nurses while caring for Audrey, we’ll never forget.
Julia, Clare, Katherine, and another Clare, and all the nurses names we cannot recall
due to exhaustion, thank you. We were kept informed of Audrey's progress at all times, constantly and patiently reassured, and always felt that she was in the best of care. To all other staff, including Dolly the
social worker who organised a hostel room for me on the last two nights, so that
I could nap between expressing milk for my baby, instead of continuing to sleep
in the recliner chair in the ICU, thank you.
Our four days spent in the
Intensive Care Unit with our tiny baby, was an experience difficult to describe - it
was emotional, overwhelming and eye opening. Being exposed to so many beautiful
children who are so unwell, and seeing so many families facing illnesses gripping their loved
ones much worse than that which our little Audrey faced, really put things into
perspective.
How blessed we are to have our little girl back home now, healthy,
happy, and smothered with love as before. It cannot be taken for granted. To
the families with little ones still facing tough roads ahead at hospital, we
hope and pray for the happiest of outcomes, and we walk away with a renewed and
enormous respect for the dedicated doctors, nurses, and all the staff who make the
Sydney Childrens Hospital such an extraordinary place to be cared for.
Those who deserve
thanks the most, often hear it the least, so from my family to the Sydney
Childrens Hospital, thank you!!
Audrey's mum and dad, Julia and Daniel,
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I want to also make
mention that we spent several nights either side of those in ICU at Randwick at
our local hospital also - St George Hospital in Kogarah - and the staff there were
wonderful too. They deserve our tremendous thanks. We are also extremely
blessed with so much family support – just knowing our two young sons were
looked each day meant we could focus on our baby while she needed us to. Thank you
so much mum and dad, and all my siblings! And to my friends who kept my feet on
the ground, and a smile on my face during the whole experience, what would I
have done without you! So very blessed.
J xx
