As a pediatric nurse at Surrey Memorial Hospital, Princy has dedicated her career to caring for children and families during some of the hardest days of their lives. But nothing could prepare her for the moment she found herself on the other side – not as a nurse, but as a mother rushing her daughter to the Emergency Room.
Her daughter was struggling to breathe – the diagnosis: pneumonia.
“We were all scared. But the moment we walked through those doors, we were surrounded by such support and compassion. And I knew that she was in the best hands, because every day, I see how my colleagues show up for kids and their families.”
For Princy, who has seen countless families walk through Surrey Memorial’s doors in crisis, the experience was overwhelming in an entirely new way. “I always had empathy for parents,” she says. “But when it’s your own child in that hospital bed, you realize how stressful and helpless it can feel. You’re just hoping someone can make your child better.”
A NURSE’S JOURNEY FROM INDIA TO SURREY
Princy’s path to pediatric nursing was not a straight one. Originally from India, she moved to Canada 10 years ago and settled in Surrey in 2015. When her children were young, she took a career pause to focus on her family.
But her passion for pediatric care brought her back. After gaining acceptance into a pediatric nursing program in Edmonton and relocating there without her family for a year, she finally joined the pediatrics team at Surrey Memorial Hospital in 2024.
“It was a big sacrifice,” she says. “But I love that I can help the parents and kids. That’s my favourite.”
One of her most memorable moments as a nurse was caring for a 10-year-old patient with osteomyelitis (inflammation or swelling in the bones) who spent over a week in the hospital. “She told me she wanted to become a nurse because she saw how I was helping everyone,” Princy shared with a smile. “Those are the moments that remind me why I chose pediatrics.”
EXPERIENCING CARE AS A PARENT
When Princy’s daughter became critically ill, she was no longer the caregiver – she was the worried parent at the bedside. She remembers breaking down in tears one night as her daughter’s oxygen levels dropped – her health deteriorating.
“The entire pediatric team was there for us. They supported me, comforted me, and did everything possible for my daughter. They were my colleagues, but in that moment, they were my lifeline.”
During her care, the team guided her daughter through procedures in a way that felt less scary. They helped divert her mind, encouraged fluids, and played with her. When it came time to do a spirometry exercise to expand her lungs and improve air circulation, she struggled. The team turned it into play by using bubbles instead. For children, the idea of “blowing” isn’t always easy to grasp. By using fun alternatives like bubbles or balloons, the pediatric team can motivate and engage with kids so that they complete the proper testing.
Her daughter eventually recovered, thanks to the care she received at Surrey Memorial. But the experience changed Princy. “Now, when I talk to parents, I understand their stress on a deeper level. Experiencing it as a parent showed me what so many families go through every day,” says Princy. “Even as a nurse, I felt the fear, the waiting, and the helplessness. But seeing how the entire team of nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dieticians, child life specialists, and respiratory therapists supported my daughter—and me—reminded me of the care and compassion that surrounds every family at Surrey Memorial.”
WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
“As a nurse and a mom, all I can say is, thank you. Your support means we can be there every time a family comes through our doors, scared and uncertain, just like we were.”
Princy’s story is a powerful reminder that pediatric care is about more than medicine – it’s about compassion, teamwork and the community that makes it possible. Every donation, volunteer and act of support helps ensure that children like her daughter have access to the care, comfort and hope they need.
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE?
If you’re a health care worker who’s been part of a meaningful moment or someone whose life has been touched by health care at one of our facilities, we would love to hear from you. Submit your story through our quick and easy form here.
