Maria Alvarado, NICU Nurse
Northwestern Prentice Women's Hospital
Nominated by Michele Dincher

"Our son was born very unexpectedly at 30 weeks and admitted to the Prentice NICU for nearly 2.5 months. As first-time parents, we were already nervous about the arrival of our baby, but as NICU parents (and a mom in healthcare), we were overwhelmed and scared for what the future would hold. We had an incredible NICU team that provided the best care and support for our family and our son that we could have asked for.

Our positive experience continued when nurse Maria joined our team. From the moment we met her, we knew that being a NICU nurse was her calling. Not only was it clear she had great experience and expertise, but she loved our son like a second mom from the moment she met him. She could read our baby’s cues so well and was the first person who could get our baby to take a bottle—and was so patient as we celebrated 5 mLs and 10 mLs and the very slow process of feeding. Maria built our confidence in how we cared for our son, answered our endless questions, advocated for him when challenges arose, and showed up for us time and time again.

There was rarely a day that we would arrive to the NICU that Maria wouldn’t already be snuggling James, feeding him, or engaging him in developmental play bright and early. Along with caring so well for our son, Maria cared so well for us as parents. Our family experienced the unexpected and tragic loss of my brother-in-law while James was in the NICU, and Maria could not have been a more supportive presence. Maria thought of everything as we prepared to travel for the funeral while James remained in the NICU—sending us with a lovey from James, writing out our communication preferences and posting them at bedside, and changing around the days she worked so James could have a familiar face when we couldn’t be there. Her love and support during this time were felt far and wide by us and our extended family, and we are so incredibly thankful for her.

One of our favorite memories with Maria was giving James his first bath. She warned us that it wasn’t typically the babies’ favorite thing—but James loved Maria’s spa day. He has been a fan of the water ever since, and one of our favorite things to do is share pictures with Maria of how incredible James is doing and what new water activity he has tried.

Words can’t express our gratitude for Maria, but we think of her often and all she has done for our family.”