When Kimberly’s son was 4 years old, he ran to answer the phone—his favorite uncle was calling. As he ran into the carpeted family room, he tripped and fell, head-first into the brick fireplace.
Kimberly says, “As we know, head lacerations bleed profusely. However, being my first child, having his first major injury, and being pregnant with my second child, I was an absolute mess. My training First Aid Training from being in the fire service went right out the window, as it was now my child injured.”
Within all her panic, Kimberly immediately knew the best care for her child and knew exactly where to take him.
“Born and raised in Philadelphia and moving to Delaware in my teens, I always heard about Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. ‘Take your child to Nemours Children’s’ ‘Nemours is the best,’ but I never had to go there myself, so I had no idea what to expect. Upon arrival via ambulance, I was in awe of the building itself and felt as if I was a little kid and scared of what was inside as it was so BIG! However, upon entering the emergency room, we were greeted with nothing but smiles and kind voices. The atmosphere was amazingly soothing in my frantic state. It was calming; the colors and sounds were comforting. It wasn’t a disordered space.”
“Once we were in the room, every person was an angel in scrubs. Their voices were so peaceful and reassuring. It calmed me like a parent to a child. To see my son so passive with them from the start was heart-warming. From enjoying the popsicle and choosing a movie of his choice, he had no idea they were stitching his forehead. To have these angels keep my firstborn so calm and treat us both so kindly was nothing I could have imagined. During this whole experience, not once did I witness any of these workers tending to us, in the halls or at the front desk ever look upset or as if they were not happy.”
“This was the ah-ha moment where I realized the Nemours Children’s team enjoyed what they did, and I was not happy with my place of employment; I knew I had to make a change. I wanted to work in a place full of smiles and help those who were in a state of need. Here I am today as a Patient Services Representative!”
