Remembering Rebecca

Although Rebecca could not speak, her blue eyes shone bright and her smile was infectious.  Rebecca had the amazing ability to win the hearts of whoever she met.  She was diagnosed at birth with a seizure disorder and transported to the NICU at Boston Children’s Hospital.  Thus began her lifelong relationship with the amazing staff at Children’s.

Over her 32 years, her medical issues grew more complex requiring numerous outpatient visits and hospitalizations.  No matter which specialist she visited or the nursing floor she stayed on, we knew Rebecca received the best care possible.

During her overnight stays we quickly discovered that Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)) are often the unsung heroes on the team providing care and compassion to the patient and family. Our conversations with the CNAs helped us understand that many are pursuing nursing degrees while working full time.

When Rebecca passed away in 2021, our family wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to those who provided outstanding care, and to honor the memory of our beautiful daughter. We established the Rebecca Ryan Nursing Scholarship to provide educational assistance to Children’s Hospital CNAs pursuing a nursing career or nurses furthering their education.