Catherine Waltemyer

My Proud Story...

I think I always knew I would work in health care. I remember my mother saying I was always "taking care" of anyone or anything that was sick - dolls, animals, people. Fast forward many years later, I graduated from nursing school and worked at hospitals in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1995, I began working at St Luke's and immediately felt at home. When I reflect on a special patient story, I recall a time when I was coordinating an Infant Loss Memorial Service, helping to plan the service and provide special music. Many people say how much they appreciated the songs I chose to sing, but this time, a mother came up to me to tell me even more. I had worked with this mother in helping her to provide her milk for her premature infant. I tried to visit with her most days when she would visit her baby, even if it was just to say "hello, keep up the good work." Sadly, her baby didn't make it and I didn't see her again. One day, she came up to me, gave me a hug and told me that because of the time I spent with her, she had decided to return to school, become a nurse and eventually become a lactation consultant like me. I don't think she knows how much that meant to me. I made a difference in her life, but that's what nurses do. She made a bigger difference in mine by telling me she wanted to help other moms feed their babies.

Catherine Waltemyer, RN
Lactation Consultant
Hired in 1995