Nurse Renee Hendrix... and all the Nurses around you #AtoZChallenge

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
31
Nurse Renee Hendrix had worked in the dreaded neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at WellStar Kennestone Hospital since 1982. So she was happy to be called in by Kleenex to star in an ad celebrating neonatal nurses day.

Having completed the interview, Renee returned back to her routine only to be called back in the evening because of a technical glitch during the interview, requiring she do it all over again. Patience being a virtue of her job, she dutifully returned to the building. But this time, she was made to sit down and watch a video.

The video featured parents of babies Renee had cared for over the years in the NICU. They thanked her for saving their children's lives, for being there for them in their worst, most vulnerable moments and for loving their child as her own. They spoke of her kindness and love and how she had saved their infant multiple times during the dreaded NICU period.

“You are our hero.”
“There are not enough words to thank you for what you’ve done.”

Nurse Renee Hendrix who works in the NICU was surprised when all the children she had saved over 30 years wound up in the same room to thank her, courtesy an ad by Kleenex, celebrating neonatal nurses day.
As the breast cancer survivor struggled to hold back tears, the doors opened and she looked up to find parents and children walking into the room. 


Nurse Renee Hendrix who works in the NICU was surprised when all the children she had saved over 30 years wound up in the same room to thank her, courtesy an ad by Kleenex, celebrating neonatal nurses day.
 Each child held a photo of themselves in the ICU in their hand. Each and every one of the children and even teenagers in that room had been cared for by Renee Hendrix during critical periods of the first days of their lives. They were all alive and in that room because of her.


Nurse Renee Hendrix who works in the NICU was surprised when all the children she had saved over 30 years wound up in the same room to thank her, courtesy an ad by Kleenex, celebrating neonatal nurses day.

"We don’t realize what an impact we have on families until we see something like that. It was very rewarding... I love those babies like they were my own. I was so honored that people would stop what they were doing and come to be there for me. It was great to see all of the kids big and healthy and thriving. I definitely felt appreciated and loved. I was just so proud of them. To know I had a part in that was very overwhelming and gratifying."
- Renee Hendrix


The theme of the ad - "If there’s someone who made a difference in your life, show them.”

Why I want you to remember nurses across the world


Being a nurse is no child's play. I have nearly two decades in the medical field as an anaesthesiologist but I would never be able to do nurse Renee's job without breaking down emotionally in the face of so many vulnerable and dying young souls over so many years.

To often be made to work extra shifts for a pitiable pay; to come face to face with the mortality of patients you have grown fond of; to put yourself at risk of a hundred communicable diseases; to make sure your attention never wavers as you balance the whims of doctors with the tirades of worried & harried patient relatives who treat you as lesser beings - you need to have a heart of steel that is still capable of humanity and love. Understand how hard their job actually is instead of belittling them.

When you are in the hospital, choose to be grateful to your nurse. Offer a kind word and a smile. It means nothing to you but just knowing that people appreciate the effort they put in and understand the odds they are up against is enough to brighten the spirits of the wonderful men and women who truly form the backbone of healthcare.

Nurse Renee Hendrix who works in the NICU was surprised when all the children she had saved over 30 years wound up in the same room to thank her, courtesy an ad by Kleenex, celebrating neonatal nurses day.
"I do what every other nurse does. I just was the lucky one to get picked. 
It was a big honor. There are so many nurses that do the same thing."
- Nurse Renee Hendrix

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.


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31Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. Heartwarming!! Rightly said - you need a heart of steel to do this job!!


    Nonchalant morning walk

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  2. Very well said Doc. The whole medical team contribute a lot to well being and glad to read about Renee bringing smiles and being appreciated by the patients.

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  3. Truly a hero. I'm glad her efforts were recognised. Enjoying your series Doc.

    Suzy at Someday Somewhere - Now and then ...

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  4. Rightly said! Nurses care so much for their patients. It is heartwarming to know the way Nurse Renee cared for the little ones like her own. A salute to all the nurses out there.

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  5. OMG, this has to be the most pleasant surprise EVER! And Renee deserves it so! What a warm gesture by the parents.

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  6. Beautiful post and theme as well. We all need real-life heroes to keep doing our bit to bring smile on faces and make this world a better place. Thank you for sharing Renee's story, I am speechless.

    Name : Gayatri Gadre
    Blog : Be young 4ever
    #AtoZChallenge Theme : Travel (off the beaten track)

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  7. Can't imagine the life of doctors, nurses and other caregivers in neo-nat department. It must be terrible to see deaths of such young babies and still going back to the same job next morning.
    Nasty

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  8. It's so wonderful that Nurse Renee's work is recognized and she is doing a commendable job. Nurses should be celebrated for their selfless service and dedication.

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  9. Isn't it truly beautiful? Real hero in every sense, Doc!

    Cheers
    BoisterousBee

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  10. After having had more than an enough share of hospital visits, I cannot thank the nurses enough. If it is a doctor who saves a life, it is the nurse who nurtures it.

    More power to them!

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  11. I agree its not easy being a nurse and it is great to honour her. They all work hard day and night for others. Good to know about Nurse Renee.

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  12. Such a heartwarming post ! :)

    More power to her !

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  13. Wow yaar :)

    "As the breast cancer survivor struggled to hold back tears, the doors opened and she looked up to find parents and children walking into the room."

    This moment! It makes you feel you have solved your purpose in this life. What a great feeling it would be.

    Not all nurses are like her, but majority have the same heart, which is why they should be respected.

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  14. She's amazing doc. What an example. I'm glad I could read about her. Cheers!

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  15. She is a perfect example for selfless devotion. Really heartwarming to know that such angels exist on earth.

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  16. She's a hero. Working in the neo natal care unit with children in critical condition is a heart wrenching job. To see all those children alive and thriving - that's a moment that is simply out of this world. Beautiful story of a beautiful soul.

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  17. She is such a hero - so inspiring!

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  18. When my little cousin was in NICU , I could see how hard the nurses worked to keep those little babies alive. They sometimes have to deal with angry parents and relatives who were not allowed inside the ward, which is understandable. This is a beautiful story of Nurse Hendrix and her likes.

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  19. Lovely article! We really don't realise the impact we end up having on other people's lives. It can be both good or bad.

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  20. Nurses are often overlooked. I've seen the way they work, I've seen the kind of support they offer, and how kindly and lovingly they offer it, but somehow they're never appreciated as they should be.

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  21. True Doc! Nurses are the unsung heroes across the world! Beautifully written- about this beautiful human being :)

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  22. It's very difficult to nurse .Definitely takes a heart of steel wrapped in love .NICU Care can be emotionally taxing .So definitely a lesson to learn.

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  23. It's very difficult to nurse .Definitely takes a heart of steel wrapped in love .NICU Care can be emotionally taxing .So definitely a lesson to learn.

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  24. Rightly said! She is such a hero. So are all the nurses who we take for granted mostly!

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  25. I have been admitted to the hospital only twice in my life so far. And I had some really horrible nurses on both occasions. I actually made a written complaint against one (the first time in Noida)!

    My second time was here in Jaipur, in Fortis. Eventually, I shifted to a different hospital, and was glad to finally see some kind nurses there!

    Nursing is a tough job, but people who join that profession only for money, and not for serving, shouldn't really be there.

    Btw, I'm lagging behind even more. But will catch up. Do visit my N post.
    Happy AtoZing!
    Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com

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  26. I'm in awe of anyone able to work in contact with illness, especially with children. I know a person who volunteers in hospitals where children with cancer are cured. He brings some stories and laugh. He does it with dedication and said the first few weeks he did it, he was devastated. But still he continued.
    I dont' think I'd ever stand it. Such people are precious.

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir

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  27. I’m so thankful to all the doctors and nurses who do so much for us. They are asked so many questions- being available in teh bight - during emergencies. It’s one hard job.
    Salute to them all!

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  28. She's doing extraordinary in not so ordinary environment. Hearts off to her devotion towards her work

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  29. The job of a nurse is next to a mother's job when she's not around. She needs that heart of gold and natural love for kids.

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  30. This is amazing. To see all those parents with their kids there to meet Nurse Hendrix must have been such an emotional moment for all of them. Fantastic thanks for sharing this one.

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  31. These kinds of show are so common there and I think it's great. I don't see many such thanksgiving in India. Nurses, cops, army and other heroes are just taken for granted and barely acknowledged. We should have more such felicitations here.

    PhenoMenon
    http://phenomenalworld.in/biryani-masterclass-at-home-1/

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