*The WillPower Awards

First, check this out:

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

#26 of 2010-2011 Top Children's Hospitals in Heart Surgery

#11 of 2010-2011 Top Children's Hospitals in Neonatology

I have been intending to put that info on here for a long time. It inspired these:

The WillPower Awards

Support Division:
Traveled the longest distance to visit Will (Family Category): Nana (PA), Uncle Eric (FL)
Traveled the longest distance to visit Will (Friend Category): Stuart R (GA), Kealie W (MN)
Honorable mention goes to Maggie M (Chattanooga isn't terribly far, but her trip was JUST to see him!)
Most Miles Traveled Total: Grandmother Cheryl
Best Hospital Visitors: Brad and Katy R, Jill C, Mel F
Best Blog Cheerleaders: Deborah H, Jill F, Bethany A, Maggie M, Katy R
Best Food Support (Meal Category): Mel F, Chris' NDC coworkers
Best Food Support (Snack Category): Alice P, Maggie M
Best Encouragement/Informative/I've Been There and You Will Survive Support (NICU Category): Maggie M, Melanie L, Beth W, Jason P, Gracie's parents (I never talked to you - I don't even know your names - but the fact that you were there so long helped us see that we could survive.)
Best Encouragement/Most Informative/So Invested It Helps Me Relax (Heart Category): Chasity C
Best Encouragement/Most Informative/So Invested It Helps Me Relax (Feeding Category): Jill S


Best Supportive Emails/Texts/Phone Calls/Prayers/Visits/Subliminal Love We Could Feel Even When We Didn't Hear From You: (Family)Will's grandparents Beth, Cheryl, Lynn, and Tony, Will's great grandfather Grand Pop, Uncle Matt, cousin Jake, Uncle Eric and Aunt Cookey, Mike and Joan D, Marvin and Cathy T, Carolyn F, Chris O, Jennifer Mc, Elliott C, Hilmar and Karen S, Ann M, Kendra A, Erica K, Rick and Christy R, the Turner clan, Tim and Charlotte H, Terry and Missey H, Nancy J

(Friends) Holly M, , Chip and Jill C, Deborah H, Pat H, Sherry F, Julie H, Julie Beth F, Beth B, Kealie W, Jeramy and Bethany A, Tanya S, Brad and Katy R, Bob and Paula F, Kara S, the whole Riddle clan, the Kent clan, Bon and Debbie H, Dana L, Stuart R, Fredra A, Dana H, Nate and Leslie D, Brian and Alice P, Katie M, Melanie L, Nicole L, Mel F, Amanda V, Courtney W, Cindy H, Noelle T, Gigi P, Ginger P, Bridget H, Jackie V, Anne Marie H, Stephanie D, Heather D, Rob P, Gina P, Jill R, Jerry and Susan D, Todd P, Brian and Lisa S, Josh and Steph T, Ann B, Dianne C, Maribeth G, Shaina F, Jennifer G, Marcia H, Robbie Y, Matt and Staci S, Jenel C, Emily T, Mary Ann B, Leah S, Katie H, Charlie and Liz D, Anna Beth M,  the Niarhos clan, the Garner clan, Jill S, Beth W, Marcy M, Jodie R, Jan W, Erica M, Amy S, Amy P, Brandy C, Ashley T, Marlene C, Laura M, Jill F, Allison C, Lauree S, Lissa P (awesome babysitter!), my former coworkers at Dan Mills Elementary (for starters Juanita, Julia, Monika, Edith, Carletha), Chris' coworkers at NDC - too many of you to name!, blog readers who have never revealed yourself, a lot of people in Reading PA and Trenton TN, and my online groups for moms of newborns, moms of preemies, exclusive pumpers, CHD moms, and TOF moms

I apologize for any names I've missed. I'm sure there are several family and friends of family and friends of friends...

It's true that even when you don't know what to say to someone who was in our position, just saying so is enough. "I don't know what to say" felt just as supportive as all the right words. 


Medical Division
Best Nurse (NICU Category): Derenda H - As close to family as we found. It makes me shudder to think about what it would have been like if you hadn't been there. Your only flaw is that you didn't work 24 hrs a day, every day.
Best Nurse (PCCU Category): Brittany - You were nice AND a skilled nurse - basically perfect! If you hadn't been keeping our son alive I would have been disgusted that someone so beautiful was also so smart AND kind AND dedicated. Sheesh you're annoying!
Best Night Nurse (NICU Category): Melissa - You were with us for months and if you had a bad night we never knew it. When we called to check on Will from home you would always giggle while you pleasantly asked "Can I have your code?" before giving us an update. We knew that meant I know it's you but I'm a rule follower and am protecting your little boy when you're not here so humor me.
Best Night Nurse (Heart Category): Lara - it turned out you were a floater so we never saw you again but you were a beacon of light with your warmth and good care after a couple of less than great experiences.
Favorite Pediatrician: Dr. Mace - who read Will's NICU records daily and has called me unprompted numerous times - more than once on a Saturday - and is patient and thorough. If you have a baby with multiple health concerns she is the one for you.
Honorable Mention NICU Nurses: Millie, Jenny, Kristina, Christina, Candy, Kendra, Ron, Keith, the other male nurse whose name I can't remember (who considered all the "firsts" sacred and would have never put Will in clothes for the first time without me), and the nice nurse who discharged us and tolerated our We don't want to be here, we don't want to get to know you, and WE ARE READY TO GET OUT OF HERE so hurry up and watch us demonstrate CPR on this doll! attitudes, and probably the 30-40 other NICU nurses who helped take care of Will. After Will was a patient on the other floors we figured out that we liked you best because NICU nurses are living their calling and it's clear that is why there are there. All nurses are amazing people, but NICU ones are extra special.
Favorite Lactation Consultant: Carol, who basically told me 25 times that I was doing a good job. Who doesn't want to hear that?
Favorite Cardiologist: Dr. Johns - I knew I liked him when he said he was "partial to boys named William that spent time in the NICU" since his son, now a teenager, was one as well! You agree to answer our worst and best case scenario questions with the entire spectrum of possible outcomes. Not everyone wants to do that but Chris and I found that if we didn't get that information then our imaginations would come up with things that were much worse than the actual possibilities.
Favorite Cardiac Surgeon: Dr. Bichell - You fixed Will's heart. What more is there to say? Chris was watching your hands while you gave us the pre-op talk. He didn't see any shaking so you passed the test. :)
Favorite NICU Attending Doctor: Dr. Prince - You agreed to let Will go home with the NG tube despite that not being common NICU practice, and gave a great description of what to expect. I learned something new every time you came to talk to us. Also you have a good sense of humor, something not always available in hospital doctors. I could have done without those jokes our last day there about keeping him longer, though. :)
Runner Up: Dr. Weitkamp - Because you let us talk you out of an unnecessary reflux surgery :)
Favorite NICU Fellow: Dr. Johnston - I could write a novella about this one. She was in the room when Will was born and had the unfortunate job of delivering all the bad news to us in those first few weeks. She could have easily, but didn't, laugh at me during our first exchange about Will's TOF diagnosis. She gently explained over the phone that Will's last echo showed that he has a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot and gave me a brief but perfect explanation for someone in a state of shock. My response...
Me: "Ok, so how do you spell that?"
Her: "t-e-t-r-a-l-o-g-y"
Me: "What about that second word you said?"
Her: "You mean of? o-f"
I was so stunned I thought the whole thing sounded like gibberish and didn't recognize "of"! Lucky for us she was often on call and rotated back onto Will's team again and again before he was discharged. Her knowledge of his medical history along with her good personality and trust that we were good parents helped make the whole experience more bearable.
Favorite Cardiology Fellow: Dr. Soslow - He was consistently on Will's team before and after his OHS, was personable, apologetic for the times we were inconvenienced, and didn't act like we were bothering him when he was on call and we called to ask questions.
Great Medical Team: the Vanderbilt Nurse-Midwives, especially Margaret. They give great personal attention and their office nurse Janette actually answers the phone when you call with a question.
Great Office Staff: The techs and nurses in the outpatient cardiology office. They have fun at work and it shows.
Favorite Hospital Social Worker: Julie Hooper - My standards are high and you get my approval.
Favorite Paramedic: The female one. I don't know her name but out of all the EMTS I met on Tet Spell Day she was the only one that had heard of TOF. Her peppy conversation helped the ambulance ride go by really quickly.
University Pediatrics Nurses That Helped Me Survive The Tet Spell: Patty, Jackie, Linda and Michelle (I don't think they'll ever forget Will - it's not every day that a baby turns blue - and I will never forget them.)

Miscellaneous Division:
Genius Creativity and Inventor of the Where There's a Will blog title: Maggie M
Genius Creativity and Inventor of the WillPower awards title: Katy R (you really didn't think I came up with either of these names by myself did you?)
Best Provider of Original Heartfelt and Often Handmade Gifts: George, Ellen, and Mary Fares N
Honorable Mention goes to: the Sunday school classes and Aunt Linda's white house classes for all the pictures drawn for Will
Saints That Helped Us Pack and Move (We're forever in your debt): Charlie and Liz D, Brian and Alice P, Brad R, Bethany A
Best Hospital System Navigation Assistance: Frances N with Honorable Mention going to your husband Tim and sister Margaret for also answering my questions!
Awesome Sharers of Maternity Clothes: Dana L (holy storage bins!), Tanya S, Jill C, Maribeth G
Best Loaner of Baby Stuff: Jill C
Best Seamstress/Maker of Personalized Clothes: Beth B
Favorite Vandy Cafe Cashier: I'm ashamed that after buying at least 80 bottles of water and 40 large sweet teas from you I never learned your name. There is no excuse for that and I have vowed to learn the names of those that seem to be the little people but are just as important as the big ones in the future. On that note, last month I learned the name of my...
Favorite Valet at University Peds: Balthazar - he is so sweet, remembers us every time, and always asks "How is the baby?". He was very upset the day I got my car back from him only to park it myself and reenter the building since I was leaving with Will in the ambulance. And this month he apologized for not knowing my name. :)

And last but not least, 
Best Baby: Will


This is the only time you will see the WillPower Awards because God willing we will not be having any years in the future that required so much support as this one.