Sarah Cazenave is a BSN, RN, and CCRN who works in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Children’s Hospital New Orleans (CHNOLA). She takes care of the most critical cardiac patients at the hospital. Her cousin, Brooks, was born with only half of a functioning heart and had to undergo a staged surgical plan of 3 surgeries at CHNOLA. The care he received inspired Cazenave to become a Cardiac ICU nurse at the same hospital.
Daily Nurse proudly honors Sarah Cazenave as the Nurse of the Week.
Cazenave says Brooks and the care he received inspired her to become a Cardiac ICU nurse at the same hospital that cared for her cousin. “I am so fortunate to work with many amazing individuals who cared for Brooks while he was in the hospital. It is a challenging but rewarding specialty.”
Cazenave shares what it was like visiting Brooks while he was receiving care.
“Upon entering the unit, a staff member immediately barks at me to wash my hands and then escorts me to his hospital room. My aunt, a nurse herself, is sitting at the bedside. We quietly talk about my cousin’s progress as he rests comfortably in the bed,” she says.
She recalls glancing at all the pumps, lines, and chest tubes while maintaining her distance a few feet away. She doesn’t want to wake Brooks up and recalls the complexity of the scene, making her feel nervous.
“I am scared to touch anything for fear of messing it up. After twenty minutes, I hugged my aunt goodbye and hastily left the unit. I feel relieved when I leave the hospital. Children are supposed to be running around and playing with toys at this age, not hooked up to numerous monitors and lines in a hospital bed. The whole experience feels foreign to me,” she adds.
Cazenave’s cousin Brooks, now eight years old, was born with Uhl’s Anomaly, tricuspid atresia, and pulmonary atresia. He received four open heart surgeries at Children’s Hospital before the age of four, with his latest being the Fontan in 2018. He is now a happy and healthy eight-year-old who enjoys playing with Pokemon, jumping on the trampoline, and having pillow fights.
Fast forward five years later. Cazenave now works with the most critical cardiac patients at Children’s Hospital in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
Cazenave cherishes the privilege of watching Brooks grow up and is grateful for the care he received at Children’s Hospital. Brooks inspired her to become a Cardiac ICU nurse, and she is proud to work with the same amazing individuals who cared for him while he was in the hospital.
She says it’s a challenging but rewarding specialty.
“Now, when I enter the unit, it doesn’t feel foreign to me, but rather like home.”
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