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Original poster

Today my daughter came home in tears. I am so proud of her.

79 replies

StillMedusa · 15/09/2019 21:52

She''s not a little girl, but a 25 year old nurse in a children's hospice.
It was her dream job from graduation and she puts her heart and soul into it. Sometimes children with life limiting disabilities come for respite, and fun, sometimes they come for end of life care. This weekend has been one of those, caring for an 8 year old passing away riddled with cancer, then today caring for a tiny baby whose diagnosis means she has days to live, but is fully alert and smiling in between the tubes and syringe drivers easing her pain.
My daughter came home to curl into my lap and cry for the children and their families, crying for the parents of the tiny smiling baby who never had a chance.
I don't know how she does it, but dear god I am proud of her and wanted to say it somewhere.

OP posts:
happypotamus · 15/09/2019 22:53

What a lovely post.
I hope you also tell her how proud you are of her. I am also a paediatric nurse though not in a hospice, and my mum has never and will never tell me she is proud of me for doing the job I do (I don't know whether she is proud or not). She is lucky to have you.
I am also a mum (my DC are still in primary school though), and it must be hard as a mum to have her come home from work so upset.

Bellisima234 · 15/09/2019 22:56

What a beautiful young woman and OP credit to you for raising this beautiful girl xx

BenWillbondsPants · 15/09/2019 22:56

I could never do what she does. She's remarkable.

MrsRufusdog789 · 15/09/2019 22:57

What a lovely Mum you are . And thank god for your lap she has to curl up in x
May I ask if your lovely daughter had any kind of debriefing or counseling for each situation she encounters ? It would be good for her long term x

SanJunipero · 15/09/2019 22:57

Your daughter sounds wonderful; she'll be making such a difference to those children and their families. When my wife was dying, the palliative care nurses felt like angels - they were so kind to the whole family. I think your daughter is doing one of the most valuable jobs there is.

Whedon · 15/09/2019 23:03

This made me cry too, she's a hero x

Original poster
StillMedusa · 15/09/2019 23:07

The nurses and carers do have support and debriefing.. and just as importantly they are allowed to cry (they generally hold it together at the time then slip into the office for a sob). Generally she copes incredibly well, knowing she has done her best to help, but some children, some deaths just get to her.. the sheer unfairness of it all.

And yes she knows how proud of her we are. Thank you for your kind words, I may show her this thread when she has had a good sleep (she worked from 7.30 am til 10pm tonight so that the baby had continuity of care) . Sometimes it's good to be reminded that what you do is appreciated!

OP posts:
akerman · 15/09/2019 23:09

Oh OP - you must be so proud. I thought I'd reached a low tonight, seeing that some people are cancelling subscriptions to the RNLI because they save migrant children from drowning, and then I came here and saw this and it's such a wonderful reminder of compassion and kindness and good. Please thank your daughter - few of us can make the sort of real difference that she is doing xx

Cherrysoup · 15/09/2019 23:12

This has made me cry. Your daughter is an amazing woman.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 15/09/2019 23:12

Thank you for sharing not only the amazing work your Daughter does but the impact that it has on her & the strength she has, to be able to deal with those in her care and their families is truly remarkable.

LookImAHooman · 15/09/2019 23:13

Your daughter is incredible and the world would be such a better place if there were more people vaguely like her.

Cecilia2016 · 15/09/2019 23:13

❤️

pumkinspicetime · 15/09/2019 23:22

Your dd is fantastic.
Please make sure she looks after her mental health, secondary trauma is real and can be very damaging.

Coyoacan · 15/09/2019 23:27

I'm so glad your dd hasn't become hardened to her work, she is a jewel and it is wonderful to know that these poor children and their families have someone like her around.

ozymandiusking · 15/09/2019 23:28

She is a good person. And she will remember those patients for the rest of her life. x

ScatteredMama82 · 15/09/2019 23:30

OP you have created a wonderful human being. I hope your daughter realises what an angel she is for those children and their families. I'm glad she CAN come home and cry in your lap. I think that is crucial for her to be able to keep getting up and carrying on with her work.

Grandmi · 15/09/2019 23:44

Your lovely girlie needs lots of Mummy cuddles...my daughter is 26 today and definitely needs support in her job ...you have raised a beautiful compassionate human being...be proud of yourself.Xxx

Flamingosrule · 15/09/2019 23:59

Your daughter is amazing! Wow! It takes an incredible caring person to do that job! I genuinely couldn’t be that brave! Give her a huge hug from me and I’m sure .. fron all the above mumsnetters! Xx

DemiGorgon · 16/09/2019 00:12

One of my close relatives (5 yr old) has a life limiting illness and goes to a hospice every 2 months to give the parents a break (parents go too). It is such an important thing to them- someone takes over the intensive medical care for their child, the parents spend 2 days with less stress.
Sadly a lot of the friends they have made there have lost their kids, but still say it is very inspirational.

Justaboy · 16/09/2019 00:39

My DD2 is now on a childerns ward, its bloody harrowing what she too has to put up with sometimes!

I'm pretty amazed how she copes with it all!.

Not surprised shes in tears sometimes your girl medusa I very much expect she wouldnt be coping if she wasnt.

Bless her:)

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 16/09/2019 00:39

And what a beautiful heart and soul she has op, please tell her as a mother of three young DD's it's people just like her I hope my girls grow up to be 💝

Empathy56 · 16/09/2019 00:41

Your daughter is wonderful op.I wish there were more people in the world like her.Flowers

FagashJackie · 16/09/2019 01:01

Please do support hospices. They do such good work. Good on your dd op.

MrsMozartMkII · 16/09/2019 03:13

What a beautiful lady Flowers

Lofari · 16/09/2019 03:18

What an absolute legend!