All for Kids Home Health

💙 Nurses Month Spotlight: Sara Washburn 💙

Sara’s nursing journey began at just 16 years old when she started working in a hospital and quickly fell in love with Labor & Delivery. Drawn to the strength, vulnerability, and resilience of women and families during life-changing moments, she intentionally worked her way onto an L&D unit before eventually beginning her nursing career in the NICU.

For nearly 20 years, Sara has supported women, babies, and families through pregnancy, birth, and the many challenges that can come with it — experiences that shaped not only the nurse she became, but the way she cares for and connects with people every day. 💛

What she loves most about working with pediatric and special needs families?

“The resilience and resourcefulness of parents and caregivers.”

Sara also wants people to understand that nursing is so much more than medical tasks and clinical skills.

“Nursing is advocacy, education, problem-solving, and being a steady source of support during some of the most overwhelming moments in a person’s life.”

At AFK, one of her favorite parts of the job is building positive connections and continuing to provide families with the resources, education, and advocacy they need to succeed.

Outside of work, Sara is a diehard Chicago sports fan, loves all types of music, and jokes that she and Dave Matthews were probably married in a previous life. 🎶 She enjoys anything involving water, spending time with her children and grandkids, reading a good book, and even relaxing while cutting the grass with AirPods in. 💙

Thank you, Sara, for the compassion, advocacy, and support you bring to AFK families every day.

💙 Nurses Month Spotlight: Kristy Frederick, RN, BSN 💙

Kristy’s journey to nursing began with her daughter, Michaela. 💛

Before becoming a nurse, Kristy worked as a mechanical engineer. But after Michaela suffered a brain injury at birth and was later diagnosed with Spastic Quad Cerebral Palsy, everything changed.

After moving to Colorado in 2014, Kristy became Michaela’s CNA and dedicated her life to caring for her daughter. Five years later, she returned to school to earn her BSN so she could become Michaela’s nurse.

“Michaela was my world. Caregiving became our identity. I knew every sound, every movement, every need with no words ever spoken.”

In June of 2022, Michaela passed away at just 10 years old — a loss that forever changed Kristy’s life.

“Not only did I lose my daughter, I lost purpose.”

Just three months later, Kristy joined the AFK family.

Today, she continues to honor Michaela through the work she does supporting children and families in the special needs community — a community she deeply understands firsthand.

“The work and interactions with families have been a big part of my healing process. I will never be ‘healed,’ but I am finding new purpose and joy in new things.”

Kristy says one of the things she loves most about AFK is being part of a team that truly strives to help families provide the best care possible for their children — and that her coworkers continue to say Michaela’s name and honor her memory.

Outside of work, Kristy volunteers at Children’s Hospital Colorado with her dog Evie through the Prescription Pet Program. 🐾 Evie was Michaela’s psychiatric service dog through Make-A-Wish, and now together they bring comfort and joy to children during some of their hardest moments.

Kristy’s compassion, strength, and dedication inspire us all, and we are so honored to have her as part of the AFK family. 💙