Nominees 2022

“My first interaction with our primary nurse Jody was watching her give our daughter Mary Jo a pacifier for the first time. Born at 28 weeks, Mary Jo’s beet red body screamed as loud as her little lungs would allow; Jody spoke so gently and lovingly as she maneuvered around the medical equipment to place a pacifier in Mary Jo’s mouth. Her tiny body relaxed as she held onto Jody’s hands. “See how it soothes her?” She laughed in amazement. Jody continued, “Look at her eyes trying to peek open!” and “Oh my goodness I see a dimple!” Jody genuinely loved and celebrated our daughter from the moment she met her. This was a gift to our family and gave us more peace in balancing the care of our three young children at home during Mary Jo’s 97 day stay. Jody didn’t just take care of Mary Jo – she took care of us too. She answered our many questions, listened to our fears, and constantly reassured us. In her presence we found ourselves feeling more like you how you would feel around a good friend you’d known for years. During those many hours in the NICU sitting with Mary Jo feeding and holding her, we shared many conversations, laughs, random stories, and heart to hearts. Even on days when Jody was the charge nurse and not directly caring for Mary Jo, she still somehow managed to find time to come by and check on her. Many of these days included her working 16 hour shifts. She never complained and had the same consistent positive energy and always her signature infectious laugh. During the time that we were in the NICU, Jody’s father sadly passed away. We never expected to hear from Jody as she had many things to attend to during that time. However, Jody continued to check on Mary Jo while she was gone from work and grieving the loss of her dad. Although she was not scheduled to work on the day Mary Jo was discharged, as we walked out of the hospital with our daughter, Jody was standing with her family waiting to give Mary Jo a hug goodbye. I still get tears in my eyes any time I think about this or tell the story to someone else. I can’t explain it, but I will try. Picture leaving your very vulnerable 3 pound newborn baby hooked up to all kinds of medical equipment with perfect strangers. It just doesn’t even seem natural. But you really have no choice, and so you just hope and pray that someone will care as much about your baby as you do – you know no one else is their mom so no one can love them like you do. But you just hope and pray they will care. In Jody, I found more than an answer to my prayer. She not only cared for Mary Jo – she really loved her. There isn’t anything more a mother’s heart could want.”

Nominated by Katie Dunne

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“Earlier this year, on a Monday morning, I found myself with my daughter in the neonatal intensive care unit at Northwestern Hospital. Mary Jo, barely 3 pounds, was a day old. This was not how we expected things to go. Unfamiliar hospital personnel were coming in and out of Mary Jo’s room that rainy morning; I remember this very clearly. Praying my rosary and staying out of their way seemed to make the most sense. It was at this most uncertain time, while my wife was still recovering from emergency cesarean surgery, that a nurse quietly walked into Mary Jo’s room and introduced herself to me. Her name was Jody Schaff. As I would come to find out with all of the special people who work in the Northwestern NICU, Jody’s commitment to our daughter was unwavering. Mary Jo’s path to recovery began with this hardworking and unassuming nurse from northwest Indiana. Over the course of the next 97 unpredictable days, Jody was at my daughter’s side comforting her like a mother during her most challenging moments. As kind as she was, it was also apparent that Jody’s opinion was sought out regularly by both her peers and the doctors alike. As a father sitting in the NICU watching everything, you have no idea how comforting it was to know we had such a well-respected all-star nurse (coach) taking care of our daughter each day. What I did not expect was how much this nurse ended up taking care of me on this journey too. After my daughter’s admission at the NICU, I convinced myself that I was going to take off work and be at the NICU with Mary Jo until she came home. I floated this idea by Jody and, without hesitation, she encouraged me to return to work and to concentrate on taking care of myself so I would be prepared to take care of Mary Jo when she came home. Spoken with such conviction, she was confident this was the right course and reassured me that she and her colleagues were going to take care of Mary Jo. Being away from Mary Jo for more than five minutes while she was in intensive care was an emotional crossroads for me. Still, this nurse was different and I really trusted her opinion. I, like the doctors I observed daily, followed her direction too and ended up returning to work. With this plan in place, I was still able to be at the hospital daily while still taking care of my responsibilities at work. When Mary Jo did come home, as Jody predicted I was in a much better place to take care of my daughter. As a father with three more children at home, please know that my wife and I quite literally trust Jody with our daughter’s life. Jody has become a member of our family. Please, please strongly consider her for this award. She is so deserving of the Jackson Chance Owl Give Award.”

Nominated by William Dunne

“Madison Sheafe is an incredible nurse who is selfless, empathetic, compassionate, committed, technical, and masterful at changing ostomy bags. Madison is cheerful and has a heart of gold which is perfect for dealing with sick babies and worried parents. Madison has been our daughter’s nurse for many months. It has been wonderful to have continuity of exceptional care. Our daughter’s journey in the NICU hasn’t been easy. Her care required a lot of attention to detail. This type of care was intimidating, but Madison was not intimidated. She quickly dove in and bravely welcomed the challenge. Madison is a selfless nurse who truly cares. She continued to be a primary nurse for our daughter even after our daughter became more stable. Madison proved herself to be someone who is truly committed. Madison asked to switch her schedule to be with our daughter. Our daughter has a special bond with Madison. When our daughter was fussy, Madison knew how to console her. Madison is perceptive and quickly alerted the medical team when our daughter needed any changes. She was the first nurse to notice an odd discharge from our daughter’s incision site. We called Madison in the evenings and early mornings, and she provided very professional updates in a pleasant and calm tone. She knows what we need to hear. We always feel like we are there whenever Madison watches our daughter. Madison has a strong ability to connect with babies and parents. Madison leaves us thoughtful messages that come from our daughter such as “Last night I was such a brave girl for all my labs, even my Covid swab. My nurse was so proud of me.” Madison’s considerate notes always make us feel like we are there with our daughter. We even take pictures of Madison’s notes and share them with daughter’s grandparents. We will never forget Madison and her incredible care of our daughter in the NICU. She is an extraordinary nurse.”

“I couldn’t even imagine that Aydin would come into our lives so early at 27 weeks and 4 days, weighing only 2 lbs and 10 oz. I was not mentally prepared to have a baby that early and I didn’t even know if he would survive. In the first days of life, we met many exceptional nurses and doctors. If we could, we would nominate the entire team of nurses at Prentice. Although, there is one nurse that stood out from the rest. I met Kelli on Day 2 of Aydin’s life. I did not know at the time that she would have such an impact on our lives as much as Aydin’s life. I was very high strung and always on edge during my time in the NICU which was balanced out by Kelli’s relaxed personality. Don’t be fooled by her easy-going nature, she is very competent in her ability as a NICU nurse. I quickly learned the NICU jargon and to read the many monitors, in order to make sure my child was doing fine. As first time parents, we had no idea what we were doing. We were missing an essential element that no amount of research could tell us, Kelli helped us to read Aydin’s cues and signs instead of the screens and data. We learned to focus less on the monitors and more to be present with him. It was the little things that we saw Aydin do which showcased his fiery spirit. She walked us through more than just caring for him – such as changing his diaper, feeding him, and comforting him – but to celebrate his small successes which ultimately led to major NICU milestones. Kelli taught us how to be parents. Kelli cared about Aydin on and off the clock. On her days off, Kelli called to check in on Aydin and worked with the other nurses to make sure that they knew about his ‘unseen’ traits. She would come back from days off with solutions to help Aydin with whatever problem that he was facing at that time. It allowed me to rest easy knowing that he was in great hands with her. When Kelli went on vacation during our NICU stay, she brought back a cute Harry Potter onesie for him letting us know that she was always thinking about him even on her time off. This is when I realized that she thought of Aydin more than just a patient. Towards the end of the NICU stay, I was having a really hard time being in the NICU and wanted to take my son home. Kelli transformed from a nurse to a friend, helping me realize that this was the best place for him and that he will come home when he is ready. Kelli even picked up an extra shift on his last day so that she could be the nurse to discharge him and continues to keep in touch about Aydin’s progress.”

“Greta is so great with the babies and parents. She always went above and beyond for my son dueling his NICU stay & always had an open ear for me. She truly loves her job and you can tell by the way she does it. She’s truly passionate. It helps us parents have the peace of mind that our babies are in good hands, mainly when we are not there next to them.”

Nominated by Brisa Gutiérrez

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“We are so grateful for my son’s primary nurse Greta Wischmeyer. We feel lucky to have had the opportunity to meet her. To have her as his primary nurse was a real blessing not only for our son Zeke but for us as well. She holds a very special place in our hearts. She was not only his nurse but a very special friend to me. Our son had been moved back forth from the NICU to the CICU and we met Greta after his second time in the NICU. This time he has was there longer than our first stay, that was when we met Greta. I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House which all of this experience was new to me. It was a very scary unknown time for us all. She was a part of the unknown days in our son’s life. The hardest days in our lives and our son’s life, but also, some the best memories in his little life. She was a shoulder to lean on and cry on when I needed to let the tears out, the person that helped me find a reason when I was feeling so lost, the person to bring comfort in me so I could take care of our son and the person that helped me when our son had one the hardest days after a surgical procedure. I knew she stayed calm for me, and she was so concerned for us. She brightened up his first St. Patrick’s Day and made it so special for us. She helped remind me that day, that it’s the little things that count and to have fun! She opened my eyes so I could start enjoying every moment every day with my son and helped me figure out where my son was going. It was not the ideal situation being in the hospital for so long, but we could still make it fun and be thankful and grateful for each day and make every day count!

We have 4 older boys other than our newborn Zeke, ages 24, 17, 15, and 11. We are a very close family, but we had to split up while Zeke was in the hospital. I stayed in Chicago to be closer to Zeke and my husband, Erik, went to our home during the week and back to Chicago on the weekends. Just recently did our family become closer, as our oldest has moved to Wisconsin in 2020. In June 2020, our family went through a very traumatic year. Erik had suffered an accident that month while cycling where he was struck by a truck. He suffered major injuries while resulted in a few surgical procedures. In the past he cycled professional, but he recently made the switch to keep cycling as a fun activity and a way to stay fit. Erik’s accident shook us as a family and changed our lives forever. I took the position as Erik’s main caretake, but our boys helped a lot which made them grow up quickly which is why we grew closer as a family. Then in 2021, I became pregnant with our fifth child, Zeke. All 4 of my previous pregnancies were difficult and the 5th did not start any different. I was extremely sick starting at about the 3-week mark which caused me to lose weight and grow weak. At 20 weeks, we were informed our son had a high probability of being born with Down Syndrome – this shook our family once again. My medical team started ultrasounds more frequently and to hear of the struggles a child with Down Syndrome go through was increasing my stress level which was not helpful to Zeke’s development. Even with his diagnosis, I just prayed for the healthiest child possible.

Unfortunately, as the pregnancy progress, I became sicker – I was not able to eat anything and the little, tiny bit I did eat, I could not keep down. I ended up in the hospital twice and eventually my situation became unsafe with Zeke’s heart and lung complications, and we were told he would not survive the pregnancy if he was not delivered soon. We prepared ourselves for the worst and hoped for the best, but whatever the outcome, he was going to be a blessing – at 34 weeks we finally got to meet Zeke. He was born with severe heart and lung complications which caused him to shift back and forth from the CICU to the NICU – this is how we met Miss Greta.

I believe she was another blessing sent from up above – I really truly believe she was put in our path because she was just what we needed for our son and for us. She didn’t become his primary nurse right away because she already had a primary patient. I actually met her because she was our neighbors primary nurse, and the nurse we had that day had been busy with her other patient so Greta helped us out as much as she could. I started to notice she was always super friendly, super helpful and whether it was big or small, she would never tell me “I’ll let your nurse know.” I started to feel so comfortable with her that I ended up asking her if she would consider being his primary or refer somebody to us. As she already had a primary patient, she told us she would help us find someone for us. Shortly after, her patient ended up being moved to a different unit which allowed Greta to pick up our son as her primary patient. Of course, we were super ecstatic!

She worked so hard and was so meticulous in everything she did to help our son. When I would go home on the weekends and come back, his room would be so clean, his bedding would be perfect (I’m not exaggerating, not one crease in the sheets), everything about him was perfect and meticulously done. My son was such a little busybody – he would pull his taping from his NG tube so much that it seemed like it had to be changed daily, but you always knew when Greta was involved in the taping because it was perfect and would stay on longer than usual! We would try to hold off until the next time Greta worked to have her tape it. I never heard Greta complain about work even when she looked so tired, she was always going above and beyond to help other patients and nurses. She was always so mindful of others, helpful and selfless, and always lent a hand with the happenings on the unit, and there is always something happening because it’s the NICU! Every time I see Greta face, I see nothing but a kind, truthful and patient person. She is a selfless person, a hard worker and such a caring individual. She really tries to just make such a difference even if it’s a little thing. She became a friend to me and a part of our family. Every time that Zeke does something special, beats an odd, or meets a milestone, I want to share that with her right away – she’s the first person that comes to my mind. We miss her greatly and I really truly believe that Greta deserves this award because she gives it to hundred percent every day. She treats her patients with dignity love and respect, and she is such a caring individual.”

Nominated by Cynthia Tomlinson

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“We like to nominate Greta Wischmeyer for the Owl Give Award for the outstanding care and compassion she provides for our daughter. She demonstrates the skill and confidence required to handle any situation that arises; moreover, the empathy she has shown to me and my wife during our daughter’s time in the NICU reflect character. Being in the hospital for an extended time can be emotionally and physically draining for parents, but Greta unselfishly devotes her time and engage in conversations that allow us to express our emotions. In regard to my daughter, there are some in the medical field that sees her as a disease and a waste of effort, but Greta looks past all the medical difficulties and sees my daughter as someone special who deserves the same level of care and love. She deserves to be recognized for being a great ambassador for Lurie’s Children Hospital and a role model for all current and future nurses.”

Nominated by Troy Van Veldhuizen

“I relocated to Chicagoland area after I was told to “terminate my pregnancy” due to the fatality risk and the lack of medical expertise at my local hospital. Which is how I arrived at Northwestern. Serene is the word I keep using to describe my birth experience but Ruby was born early, small and with liquid in her lungs. Nobody plans on being a NICU Mom and my high-risk pregnancy was always focused on me. Once I was medically discharged from Labor and Delivery my recovery started in the NICU. It was with the compassion and support I received from Towauna Williams that kept me going. I will be a single parent, doing this for the first time and feeling alone, except for her. I can only assume her years of experience attracted her to me, she must have known I needed someone like her to educate me and give me the confidence to understand and know how to care for a premie. Her leadership role was obvious in the tone she set when she was present in the corridors of the NICUnit. I would come to the NICU every day, early in the morning and find Towauna humming to the babies. Her calm cadence and demeanor set not only them at ease. My Ruby would already be changed, cleaned and wrapped like a gift waiting for me to snuggle. She was there to make sure I went to lunch and didn’t stay too late. In the beginning I could not be removed from Ruby’s room but knowing Towauna was there gave me the solace and confidence to take some time away for my own self care. It was during the days in NICU that I learned the necessary techniques and tips for taking care of an infant which I use at home now. Towauna had an instinct for knowing when I needed help and when I needed to fumble through something. But importantly she gave me these opportunities to learn for myself. Towauna became my support person during a time when I had to make decisions about the health of my daughter. When the doctors made rounds in the mornings she was always there. It was just me learning, processing and making decisions for my delicate little girl and I often needed her to help me in making the best decision. She would call back the doctors, listen to me talk it out or explain and review Ruby’s medical history. Towauna had my back when I had no one else. She continues to check in on us today. Yes, probably even the day you are reading this. Towauna has dedicated thirty-seven years to Nursing and thirty-six and a half of them have been at Prentice Hospital. She gives not only to her fellow staff, families and babies she takes the time to participate for the cause, playing in the Pay It Forward Ping Pong tournament for this very Jackson Chance Foundation, only to give back the proceeds. It gives me pleasure to nominate someone whose contributions, compassion, leadership and dedication deserves some recognition herself.”

“Meaghan has been our primary NICU nurse for the last 4 months. Our little man came to us 2 months early and with a long list of diagnosis. Needless to say, these last 4 months have been a rollercoaster. Meaghan has been our light during these dark times. The days that she is working are always better than those she is not. Her kindness and care toward our little guy is overwhelming, yet she still has room in her heart to be a friend and counselor to us as parents. Her ability to know the right thing to say to help us through a moment is amazing. She’s able to be honest and realistic while also filling us with hope. She also knows the right time to come in with a fun distracting story about her life outside of work. Her advocacy toward our son is amazing to see. Her familiarity with his history helps her be a huge help during those times when decisions need to be made quickly and she’s always eager to voice her thoughts when they are helpful. Her opinions are so important to us, as it’s so very clear that everything she does is in our guy’s best interest. Her hands on approach puts our little guy at ease. It’s made very clear by the way he stares into her eyes and breathes a little easier. She has made our stay at the NICU more than something we need to survive . She provides learning opportunities every chance she gets and provides great comfort for the three of us. I truly can’t imagine getting through these times without her. I think she deserves a parade in her name, and she certainly deserves to with this award.”

Nominated by Claire Mackey

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“Our beautiful grandson was born on Angel Day, 11/11/21. The day after birth, he had surgery at Lurie which would be the start of his 4 month NICU stay. Luke is our first grandson, and we live 2,000 miles away. So, knowing that Luke and his mommy and daddy were receiving such great care from this angel nurse, put our minds at ease. Hearing about her interactions with Luke, gave us peace. Meghan, you truly are an angel on earth – your heart and soul make you the perfect recipient for this award. God bless you. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Nominated by Patricia Mackey

“Sue is the penultimate definition of the perfect NICU nurse—A perfect mix of an Incredibly competent and experienced caregiver—combined with the most caring, selfless and loving heart. She makes every mother in the NICU feel like their baby and the parents are being cared for by their onw mom, best friend, aunt or best girlfriend. Sue will be patient, be kind, and be straight when that is needed or what is best. She will also make you laugh ( when you only think you can cry) and see the beauty in the little things. She is truly the epitome of the nurse EVERY family needs when they are facing the NICU journey with their precious baby. Sue does so much for so many—her own family, her mom, her foster babies…..she deserves a break and a vacation would be the perfect thank you to let her know how much she is loved. Thank you for considering Sue D. Lorrie.”

“We love Doreen. Doreen was like a family member to both of us; we still stay in touch with her. We know how much she cared for our daughter. As soon as we met Doreen, we immediately bonded with her. Doreen is a ball of positive energy with a great personality and sense of humor. She kept us engaged and calm during some very difficult times. She was very wise and gave us great advice. She was instrumental in our daughter’s discharge planning; we still utilize her tips. We are appreciative that she took great care of our daughter. She’s a wonderful NICU nurse who deserves to be recognized.”

“When our daughter, “Baby M”, was born at 35 weeks, we were filled with fear and concern as the doctors weren’t sure why she didn’t breathe independently or move actively compared to other preemies. On day 5 after a failed extubation, we transferred to Lurie’s NICU for specialized care and further testing. Slowly, we began to see milestone footprints and crafted artwork on our daughter’s windows from a night shift nurse. They were our first keepsakes. The artwork cherished each day during a time when we were filled with more fear than we were a sense of celebration. With her evening baths, this same nurse clothed our daughter for the first time from the shared NICU bin. Wearing clothes was a milestone itself and offered the smallest of joys. Then we received a handwritten note from the nurse, Nurse Cassidy, about her night written from the perspective of our daughter. We loved hearing about all the little details like tasting breastmilk or reading books that we didn’t get to do from home. When we called in the evening from home, we learned how Cassidy spoke directly to our daughter with empathy and care. She would place us on speaker phone so our daughter could hear our voice. We even heard Baby M coo for the first time over the phone. This cooing was such a gift after not hearing her cry for the first two months of life due to a breathing tube! These evening calls also helped our toddler connect to “Baby Sister” and would say “good night Nurse Cass-dee”. When Cassidy worked days, we got to know her in person and see how she nurtured our daughter in everything she did. Through crummy heel pricks, IV placements, and all the necessary suctioning, she spoke to Baby M with love and attention. Cassidy knew Baby M’s baseline vitals and how she communicated her frustration or fatigue (like when her eyebrows turned red). She advocated for our daughter and believed in her capabilities. Cassidy prepared our daughter for a smooth baptism and participated in her Christening. Her family offers up prayers for Baby M and we pray for Nurse Cassidy. When Baby M was working on head control and scheduled for a surgery, Cassidy gifted her a starry globe nightlight that encouraged her to hold her head in midline as she stared at the color changing lights on the ceiling. Currently we are on day 171 and counting. Cassidy brought us joy, celebration, and valuable care when the days were long and tenuous. She is a part of our story and a critical part of our support team. Her continued care, attention, and efforts to go above and beyond make her deserving of the 2022 #OwlGive Award!”

“Lauren Macias was Debbie’s primary nurse and became like family during our NICU stay. I remember the first day I met her, the kindness she showed towards me was comforting. We instantly clicked. I immediately asked our care coordinator if I could request her as a primary nurse; I was unaware of Lauren’s request to make Debbie her primary. Lauren was the first to make my husband and I smile and laugh during a heartbreaking time. It was so hard to leave my baby in the NICU but knowing that Lauren was there always gave me peace of mind. Lauren treated Debbie as her own but never made me feel replaced. I remember multiple times walking into the room and seeing her rocking Debbie to sleep, reading and singing to her, and going above and beyond with Debbie’s care. With care and encouragement, she taught my husband and me to feel confident taking care of Debbie, both in the hospital and at home. I remember during the first days after Debbie was extubated and put on the ram cannula Lauren called me and said, “We have to switch Debbie to Cpap because she needs more support” for a split second, I remember feeling like we were going back, but then she said “this is not a step backward this is setting her up for long term success” I instantly felt better and in my heart, I was so thankful that Debbie had a nurse that was willing to advocate for her and support us in making those difficult decisions. Not only was Lauren a good nurse, but she also became a wonderful friend. Often as NICU parents, we feel a little left out when it comes to the parenthood community, but Lauren made us feel like real parents. Before we left the NICU, Lauren made sure we had a list of all the baby essentials and gave us tips and tricks that were so helpful during those first days of being home. As a NICU graduation gift, Lauren gifted Debbie a book titled “Be brave little one” it was signed by many nurses. When I read the book, it warmed my heart, but it also made me think how hard it would’ve been for Debbie and our family to be brave if it hadn’t been for a brave and loving nurse like Lauren. Lauren was a ray of sunshine in a very dark time. She gave us hope. Even now that we are home, she continues to show love towards our little girl and our family. We are so grateful for her and genuinely believe that any baby that comes into Lauren’s care will receive extraordinary, loving care. This is why I believe Lauren should receive the Owl Give Award”

“Roselle was one of the the primary care nurses for one of our babies. After just a few shifts, Roselle signed up to take care of them. For the next several months, Roselle came in every single day with a smile on her face and took care of this baby with everything in her heart.

She helped them grow from a teeny-tiny baby, to one of our biggest and strongest babies on the unit. She spent hours knowing exactly what the baby needed- to provide the best care, best medical plan, and helped the baby become so strong.

Any nurse on our unit who watched Roselle give this baby care, knows EXACTLY how hard she worked and how special it was to watch the relationship between this baby and her. These few words do not even begin to describe it. Roselle is an amazing nurse and deserves to be honored for her special work in this case!!”

“On November 3, 2021, I was admitted to Prentice Hospital for severe preeclampsia. I had never been hospitalized before and I remember feeling so scared. Ten days later, our daughter, Nayeli Sofía was born. Nayeli was born prematurely at 32 weeks and weighed 2 pounds 12 ounces. From the moment she took her first breaths, I knew she was a fighter. I was hospitalized for 20 days and Nayeli was in the NICU for a month. Jessica McCarthy was one of the nurses that admitted our daughter into the NICU. Every single worker at Prentice was wonderful and we felt blessed to have such a great medical team. I remember meeting Jessica for the first time and instantly feeling calm. At that time it was hard for me to stand because of my condition and she made sure I was feeling okay and asked if I needed anything. The care and comfort she provided our family during the most difficult time in our lives was above and beyond anything I could’ve prayed for.

Jessica instantly requested to be Nayeli’s primary NICU nurse and was there from day one until we were discharged. On our discharge day, Jessica walked us out to our car and gave us a heartwarming sendoff. We remain in touch and have visited her a couple times at Prentice when we’ve had follow up appointments. We make sure to drop off donuts and coffee for her and the NICU staff. Jessica also attended our wedding anniversary celebration and cared for Nayeli while we were at the reception. We couldn’t think of a better person to care for Nayeli while we celebrated our anniversary with family and friends. We call Jessica our angel on Earth because she watched over Nayeli every hospital shift she had. It was so hard for me to not be with Nayeli every second during her first month, but I knew Jessica and the NICU staff was providing the best care while I was away from her recovering and unable to physically be there. Jessica would give me updates and always say Nayeli was “Tiny, but mighty!” and she was right. Jessica was Nayeli’s first friend and we will continue to stay in touch with her and send life updates as Nayeli grows up. We are so thankful to have met Jessica and made a lifelong friend. We can’t think of a more deserving person for the Owl Give Award than Jessica McCarthy. She can definitely use an all-expense paid vacation since she has been very busy at work and busy planning her wedding!”

“Vangie is not only a nurse but a true angel on earth. She turned one of the scariest moments of our lives into something beautiful and a true learning experience. She took her time explaining, teaching, and listening to our worries and fears. She became their honorary Tita (aunt in Tagalog). Leaving our babies each night to go home was simply the hardest thing I had ever done but her reassurance and love for our children made my husband and I feel safe. We were leaving them with their Tita. The countless hours she spent educating us on how to learn what our babies needed and when they needed it was a gift that could never be duplicated. It was my dad’s birthday while we were in this hospital and she took the time to make a special card for him from the babies, adding an adorable note and even their footprints. During the daily rounds of the medical team, she would always speak up on our behalf and advocate for our twins. If I ever had a question or an issue, she would make sure to get to the bottom of it immediately. After we left the hospital, she would text to check in and make sure we were doing ok (even sending me a Mother’s Day message) and even sent our babies little gifts to learn how to adapt to tummy time – it was magic! The toys worked exactly how she said they would! Our lives are forever better because of her, and we talk about her frequently at home. We can whole heartedly say, without Vangie our NICU stay would not have been so seamless. Please take into serious consideration awarding her this award – there isn’t anyone who deserves it more!”

“My first interaction with our primary nurse Jody was watching her give our daughter Mary Jo a pacifier for the first time. Born at 28 weeks, Mary Jo’s beet red body screamed as loud as her little lungs would allow; Jody spoke so gently and lovingly as she maneuvered around the medical equipment to place a pacifier in Mary Jo’s mouth. Her tiny body relaxed as she held onto Jody’s hands. “See how it soothes her?” She laughed in amazement. Jody continued, “Look at her eyes trying to peek open!” and “Oh my goodness I see a dimple!” Jody genuinely loved and celebrated our daughter from the moment she met her. This was a gift to our family and gave us more peace in balancing the care of our three young children at home during Mary Jo’s 97 day stay. Jody didn’t just take care of Mary Jo – she took care of us too. She answered our many questions, listened to our fears, and constantly reassured us. In her presence we found ourselves feeling more like you how you would feel around a good friend you’d known for years. During those many hours in the NICU sitting with Mary Jo feeding and holding her, we shared many conversations, laughs, random stories, and heart to hearts. Even on days when Jody was the charge nurse and not directly caring for Mary Jo, she still somehow managed to find time to come by and check on her. Many of these days included her working 16 hour shifts. She never complained and had the same consistent positive energy and always her signature infectious laugh. During the time that we were in the NICU, Jody’s father sadly passed away. We never expected to hear from Jody as she had many things to attend to during that time. However, Jody continued to check on Mary Jo while she was gone from work and grieving the loss of her dad. Although she was not scheduled to work on the day Mary Jo was discharged, as we walked out of the hospital with our daughter, Jody was standing with her family waiting to give Mary Jo a hug goodbye. I still get tears in my eyes any time I think about this or tell the story to someone else. I can’t explain it, but I will try. Picture leaving your very vulnerable 3 pound newborn baby hooked up to all kinds of medical equipment with perfect strangers. It just doesn’t even seem natural. But you really have no choice, and so you just hope and pray that someone will care as much about your baby as you do – you know no one else is their mom so no one can love them like you do. But you just hope and pray they will care. In Jody, I found more than an answer to my prayer. She not only cared for Mary Jo – she really loved her. There isn’t anything more a mother’s heart could want.”

Nominated by Katie Dunne

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“Earlier this year, on a Monday morning, I found myself with my daughter in the neonatal intensive care unit at Northwestern Hospital. Mary Jo, barely 3 pounds, was a day old. This was not how we expected things to go. Unfamiliar hospital personnel were coming in and out of Mary Jo’s room that rainy morning; I remember this very clearly. Praying my rosary and staying out of their way seemed to make the most sense. It was at this most uncertain time, while my wife was still recovering from emergency cesarean surgery, that a nurse quietly walked into Mary Jo’s room and introduced herself to me. Her name was Jody Schaff. As I would come to find out with all of the special people who work in the Northwestern NICU, Jody’s commitment to our daughter was unwavering. Mary Jo’s path to recovery began with this hardworking and unassuming nurse from northwest Indiana. Over the course of the next 97 unpredictable days, Jody was at my daughter’s side comforting her like a mother during her most challenging moments. As kind as she was, it was also apparent that Jody’s opinion was sought out regularly by both her peers and the doctors alike. As a father sitting in the NICU watching everything, you have no idea how comforting it was to know we had such a well-respected all-star nurse (coach) taking care of our daughter each day. What I did not expect was how much this nurse ended up taking care of me on this journey too. After my daughter’s admission at the NICU, I convinced myself that I was going to take off work and be at the NICU with Mary Jo until she came home. I floated this idea by Jody and, without hesitation, she encouraged me to return to work and to concentrate on taking care of myself so I would be prepared to take care of Mary Jo when she came home. Spoken with such conviction, she was confident this was the right course and reassured me that she and her colleagues were going to take care of Mary Jo. Being away from Mary Jo for more than five minutes while she was in intensive care was an emotional crossroads for me. Still, this nurse was different and I really trusted her opinion. I, like the doctors I observed daily, followed her direction too and ended up returning to work. With this plan in place, I was still able to be at the hospital daily while still taking care of my responsibilities at work. When Mary Jo did come home, as Jody predicted I was in a much better place to take care of my daughter. As a father with three more children at home, please know that my wife and I quite literally trust Jody with our daughter’s life. Jody has become a member of our family. Please, please strongly consider her for this award. She is so deserving of the Jackson Chance Owl Give Award.”

Nominated by William Dunne

“Madison Sheafe is an incredible nurse who is selfless, empathetic, compassionate, committed, technical, and masterful at changing ostomy bags. Madison is cheerful and has a heart of gold which is perfect for dealing with sick babies and worried parents. Madison has been our daughter’s nurse for many months. It has been wonderful to have continuity of exceptional care. Our daughter’s journey in the NICU hasn’t been easy. Her care required a lot of attention to detail. This type of care was intimidating, but Madison was not intimidated. She quickly dove in and bravely welcomed the challenge. Madison is a selfless nurse who truly cares. She continued to be a primary nurse for our daughter even after our daughter became more stable. Madison proved herself to be someone who is truly committed. Madison asked to switch her schedule to be with our daughter. Our daughter has a special bond with Madison. When our daughter was fussy, Madison knew how to console her. Madison is perceptive and quickly alerted the medical team when our daughter needed any changes. She was the first nurse to notice an odd discharge from our daughter’s incision site. We called Madison in the evenings and early mornings, and she provided very professional updates in a pleasant and calm tone. She knows what we need to hear. We always feel like we are there whenever Madison watches our daughter. Madison has a strong ability to connect with babies and parents. Madison leaves us thoughtful messages that come from our daughter such as “Last night I was such a brave girl for all my labs, even my Covid swab. My nurse was so proud of me.” Madison’s considerate notes always make us feel like we are there with our daughter. We even take pictures of Madison’s notes and share them with daughter’s grandparents. We will never forget Madison and her incredible care of our daughter in the NICU. She is an extraordinary nurse.”

“I couldn’t even imagine that Aydin would come into our lives so early at 27 weeks and 4 days, weighing only 2 lbs and 10 oz. I was not mentally prepared to have a baby that early and I didn’t even know if he would survive. In the first days of life, we met many exceptional nurses and doctors. If we could, we would nominate the entire team of nurses at Prentice. Although, there is one nurse that stood out from the rest. I met Kelli on Day 2 of Aydin’s life. I did not know at the time that she would have such an impact on our lives as much as Aydin’s life. I was very high strung and always on edge during my time in the NICU which was balanced out by Kelli’s relaxed personality. Don’t be fooled by her easy-going nature, she is very competent in her ability as a NICU nurse. I quickly learned the NICU jargon and to read the many monitors, in order to make sure my child was doing fine. As first time parents, we had no idea what we were doing. We were missing an essential element that no amount of research could tell us, Kelli helped us to read Aydin’s cues and signs instead of the screens and data. We learned to focus less on the monitors and more to be present with him. It was the little things that we saw Aydin do which showcased his fiery spirit. She walked us through more than just caring for him – such as changing his diaper, feeding him, and comforting him – but to celebrate his small successes which ultimately led to major NICU milestones. Kelli taught us how to be parents. Kelli cared about Aydin on and off the clock. On her days off, Kelli called to check in on Aydin and worked with the other nurses to make sure that they knew about his ‘unseen’ traits. She would come back from days off with solutions to help Aydin with whatever problem that he was facing at that time. It allowed me to rest easy knowing that he was in great hands with her. When Kelli went on vacation during our NICU stay, she brought back a cute Harry Potter onesie for him letting us know that she was always thinking about him even on her time off. This is when I realized that she thought of Aydin more than just a patient. Towards the end of the NICU stay, I was having a really hard time being in the NICU and wanted to take my son home. Kelli transformed from a nurse to a friend, helping me realize that this was the best place for him and that he will come home when he is ready. Kelli even picked up an extra shift on his last day so that she could be the nurse to discharge him and continues to keep in touch about Aydin’s progress.”

“Greta is so great with the babies and parents. She always went above and beyond for my son dueling his NICU stay & always had an open ear for me. She truly loves her job and you can tell by the way she does it. She’s truly passionate. It helps us parents have the peace of mind that our babies are in good hands, mainly when we are not there next to them.”

Nominated by Brisa Gutiérrez

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“We are so grateful for my son’s primary nurse Greta Wischmeyer. We feel lucky to have had the opportunity to meet her. To have her as his primary nurse was a real blessing not only for our son Zeke but for us as well. She holds a very special place in our hearts. She was not only his nurse but a very special friend to me. Our son had been moved back forth from the NICU to the CICU and we met Greta after his second time in the NICU. This time he has was there longer than our first stay, that was when we met Greta. I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House which all of this experience was new to me. It was a very scary unknown time for us all. She was a part of the unknown days in our son’s life. The hardest days in our lives and our son’s life, but also, some the best memories in his little life. She was a shoulder to lean on and cry on when I needed to let the tears out, the person that helped me find a reason when I was feeling so lost, the person to bring comfort in me so I could take care of our son and the person that helped me when our son had one the hardest days after a surgical procedure. I knew she stayed calm for me, and she was so concerned for us. She brightened up his first St. Patrick’s Day and made it so special for us. She helped remind me that day, that it’s the little things that count and to have fun! She opened my eyes so I could start enjoying every moment every day with my son and helped me figure out where my son was going. It was not the ideal situation being in the hospital for so long, but we could still make it fun and be thankful and grateful for each day and make every day count!

We have 4 older boys other than our newborn Zeke, ages 24, 17, 15, and 11. We are a very close family, but we had to split up while Zeke was in the hospital. I stayed in Chicago to be closer to Zeke and my husband, Erik, went to our home during the week and back to Chicago on the weekends. Just recently did our family become closer, as our oldest has moved to Wisconsin in 2020. In June 2020, our family went through a very traumatic year. Erik had suffered an accident that month while cycling where he was struck by a truck. He suffered major injuries while resulted in a few surgical procedures. In the past he cycled professional, but he recently made the switch to keep cycling as a fun activity and a way to stay fit. Erik’s accident shook us as a family and changed our lives forever. I took the position as Erik’s main caretake, but our boys helped a lot which made them grow up quickly which is why we grew closer as a family. Then in 2021, I became pregnant with our fifth child, Zeke. All 4 of my previous pregnancies were difficult and the 5th did not start any different. I was extremely sick starting at about the 3-week mark which caused me to lose weight and grow weak. At 20 weeks, we were informed our son had a high probability of being born with Down Syndrome – this shook our family once again. My medical team started ultrasounds more frequently and to hear of the struggles a child with Down Syndrome go through was increasing my stress level which was not helpful to Zeke’s development. Even with his diagnosis, I just prayed for the healthiest child possible.

Unfortunately, as the pregnancy progress, I became sicker – I was not able to eat anything and the little, tiny bit I did eat, I could not keep down. I ended up in the hospital twice and eventually my situation became unsafe with Zeke’s heart and lung complications, and we were told he would not survive the pregnancy if he was not delivered soon. We prepared ourselves for the worst and hoped for the best, but whatever the outcome, he was going to be a blessing – at 34 weeks we finally got to meet Zeke. He was born with severe heart and lung complications which caused him to shift back and forth from the CICU to the NICU – this is how we met Miss Greta.

I believe she was another blessing sent from up above – I really truly believe she was put in our path because she was just what we needed for our son and for us. She didn’t become his primary nurse right away because she already had a primary patient. I actually met her because she was our neighbors primary nurse, and the nurse we had that day had been busy with her other patient so Greta helped us out as much as she could. I started to notice she was always super friendly, super helpful and whether it was big or small, she would never tell me “I’ll let your nurse know.” I started to feel so comfortable with her that I ended up asking her if she would consider being his primary or refer somebody to us. As she already had a primary patient, she told us she would help us find someone for us. Shortly after, her patient ended up being moved to a different unit which allowed Greta to pick up our son as her primary patient. Of course, we were super ecstatic!

She worked so hard and was so meticulous in everything she did to help our son. When I would go home on the weekends and come back, his room would be so clean, his bedding would be perfect (I’m not exaggerating, not one crease in the sheets), everything about him was perfect and meticulously done. My son was such a little busybody – he would pull his taping from his NG tube so much that it seemed like it had to be changed daily, but you always knew when Greta was involved in the taping because it was perfect and would stay on longer than usual! We would try to hold off until the next time Greta worked to have her tape it. I never heard Greta complain about work even when she looked so tired, she was always going above and beyond to help other patients and nurses. She was always so mindful of others, helpful and selfless, and always lent a hand with the happenings on the unit, and there is always something happening because it’s the NICU! Every time I see Greta face, I see nothing but a kind, truthful and patient person. She is a selfless person, a hard worker and such a caring individual. She really tries to just make such a difference even if it’s a little thing. She became a friend to me and a part of our family. Every time that Zeke does something special, beats an odd, or meets a milestone, I want to share that with her right away – she’s the first person that comes to my mind. We miss her greatly and I really truly believe that Greta deserves this award because she gives it to hundred percent every day. She treats her patients with dignity love and respect, and she is such a caring individual.”

Nominated by Cynthia Tomlinson

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“We like to nominate Greta Wischmeyer for the Owl Give Award for the outstanding care and compassion she provides for our daughter. She demonstrates the skill and confidence required to handle any situation that arises; moreover, the empathy she has shown to me and my wife during our daughter’s time in the NICU reflect character. Being in the hospital for an extended time can be emotionally and physically draining for parents, but Greta unselfishly devotes her time and engage in conversations that allow us to express our emotions. In regard to my daughter, there are some in the medical field that sees her as a disease and a waste of effort, but Greta looks past all the medical difficulties and sees my daughter as someone special who deserves the same level of care and love. She deserves to be recognized for being a great ambassador for Lurie’s Children Hospital and a role model for all current and future nurses.”

Nominated by Troy Van Veldhuizen

“I relocated to Chicagoland area after I was told to “terminate my pregnancy” due to the fatality risk and the lack of medical expertise at my local hospital. Which is how I arrived at Northwestern. Serene is the word I keep using to describe my birth experience but Ruby was born early, small and with liquid in her lungs. Nobody plans on being a NICU Mom and my high-risk pregnancy was always focused on me. Once I was medically discharged from Labor and Delivery my recovery started in the NICU. It was with the compassion and support I received from Towauna Williams that kept me going. I will be a single parent, doing this for the first time and feeling alone, except for her. I can only assume her years of experience attracted her to me, she must have known I needed someone like her to educate me and give me the confidence to understand and know how to care for a premie. Her leadership role was obvious in the tone she set when she was present in the corridors of the NICUnit. I would come to the NICU every day, early in the morning and find Towauna humming to the babies. Her calm cadence and demeanor set not only them at ease. My Ruby would already be changed, cleaned and wrapped like a gift waiting for me to snuggle. She was there to make sure I went to lunch and didn’t stay too late. In the beginning I could not be removed from Ruby’s room but knowing Towauna was there gave me the solace and confidence to take some time away for my own self care. It was during the days in NICU that I learned the necessary techniques and tips for taking care of an infant which I use at home now. Towauna had an instinct for knowing when I needed help and when I needed to fumble through something. But importantly she gave me these opportunities to learn for myself. Towauna became my support person during a time when I had to make decisions about the health of my daughter. When the doctors made rounds in the mornings she was always there. It was just me learning, processing and making decisions for my delicate little girl and I often needed her to help me in making the best decision. She would call back the doctors, listen to me talk it out or explain and review Ruby’s medical history. Towauna had my back when I had no one else. She continues to check in on us today. Yes, probably even the day you are reading this. Towauna has dedicated thirty-seven years to Nursing and thirty-six and a half of them have been at Prentice Hospital. She gives not only to her fellow staff, families and babies she takes the time to participate for the cause, playing in the Pay It Forward Ping Pong tournament for this very Jackson Chance Foundation, only to give back the proceeds. It gives me pleasure to nominate someone whose contributions, compassion, leadership and dedication deserves some recognition herself.”

“Meaghan has been our primary NICU nurse for the last 4 months. Our little man came to us 2 months early and with a long list of diagnosis. Needless to say, these last 4 months have been a rollercoaster. Meaghan has been our light during these dark times. The days that she is working are always better than those she is not. Her kindness and care toward our little guy is overwhelming, yet she still has room in her heart to be a friend and counselor to us as parents. Her ability to know the right thing to say to help us through a moment is amazing. She’s able to be honest and realistic while also filling us with hope. She also knows the right time to come in with a fun distracting story about her life outside of work. Her advocacy toward our son is amazing to see. Her familiarity with his history helps her be a huge help during those times when decisions need to be made quickly and she’s always eager to voice her thoughts when they are helpful. Her opinions are so important to us, as it’s so very clear that everything she does is in our guy’s best interest. Her hands on approach puts our little guy at ease. It’s made very clear by the way he stares into her eyes and breathes a little easier. She has made our stay at the NICU more than something we need to survive . She provides learning opportunities every chance she gets and provides great comfort for the three of us. I truly can’t imagine getting through these times without her. I think she deserves a parade in her name, and she certainly deserves to with this award.”

Nominated by Claire Mackey

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“Our beautiful grandson was born on Angel Day, 11/11/21. The day after birth, he had surgery at Lurie which would be the start of his 4 month NICU stay. Luke is our first grandson, and we live 2,000 miles away. So, knowing that Luke and his mommy and daddy were receiving such great care from this angel nurse, put our minds at ease. Hearing about her interactions with Luke, gave us peace. Meghan, you truly are an angel on earth – your heart and soul make you the perfect recipient for this award. God bless you. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Nominated by Patricia Mackey