Memories of Kindra

Welcome to our group Remembering Kindra Group! A space for us to connect and share with each other. Start by posting your thoughts, sharing media, or creating a poll.

January 2014 the Nyien’s arrived in California to ski at Lake Tahoe. My wife Svetlana and I were to meet them at Northstar at 9:00 but they didn’t arrive. 9:30 I called Patti asking, “Where are you guys?” and she responded, “In Nevada” I asked, “What are you doing in Nevada? Northstar is on the west side of the lake and Nevada is east.” She hesitated and responded, “I guess Harvey made a wrong turn.” Those reading this might be aware that Harvey self-proclaims to be directionally challenged.

Three cups of hot-chocolate latter we are still watching the gondola coming up from the parking lot from which they should arrive but they have not. From behind I hear voices that sound like Kevin and Kindra and here they come, the whole Nyien gang less Harvey. I asked, “How did you get up here?” and Kindra said “We skied down out…

Our family had gone skiing in Jackson Hole (one of the most difficult ski resorts in the USA). Kindra and I had decided to seek out some of the more advanced chutes there. As we headed down, we continuously took the more difficult way down until we arrived at the precipice of a series of cliffs. As I looked down this incredibly treacherous run, I could only see one 'line' that looked like it would work, and it had no room for error. I turned to Kindra and said, "I've gotta admit I'm a little scared." She replied "good. Now go."

There is no doubt that Sinai has a heart. It’s strong pulse is felt by anyone who enters through the door. Just as the human heart is made up of cells, Sinai’s heart is made up of it’s dedicated employees. Kindra Nelson made up a large portion of that vigorous heart. Hers, so in tuned with all the rest of patients in need, and their community. She couldn’t help her self, but to get involved in Sinai’s improvement projects. Where and when Sinai was struggling Kindra was there to figure it out. It is through these improvement projects scattered across the time line how I got to know Kindra.

When I was working to improve oral care in the ICU’s, and needed to present it to the Shared Governance Committee, there was no surprise that Kindra’s face was one of the few in the audience. Her presence so big.…

A few memories of my rock star, Kindra. I knew she would be a rock star when she as a toddler explained to her mother that the object in her nose was a “wock”. She added that she found it in one of the houseplants. That was our first of many trips to the emergency unit with Kindra. She went there so often that eventually the ER became her chosen career.

My second memory of Kindra and a rock occurred on her first ski outing when she was 3. She learned how to turn, and she learned how to stop, but she preferred not to do those activities as instructed. Her preferred ski position was to point her skis straight down the hill, get into a tuck position and go as fast as she could. Kind of the way she would go through the rest of her life. Her mother…

My favorite memory of Kindra goes back to the first time we met in 2012. We were both going through SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) training and I, a brand new advocate, was quietly sitting in that big auditorium with a bunch of fierce emergency department nurses feeling totally out of place. We broke off into groups to walk through some roleplay scenarios. My group was adjacent to Kindra's whom I hadn't yet met but I overheard her group read the first heavy scenario and pause unsure what to do. Another visibly overwhelmed nurse asked the group "sooo what do we even do first?" and that's when I heard a feisty spiky-haired, way-too-cool nurse confidently shout out "You call 9-1-1 AND you call the advocate. You always call the advocate!" My ears immediately perked at the reference to calling the advocates. I had just started working with Resilience (formerly RVA)…

I knew Kindra since she first started working in the ER at nights. She always impressed with her work ethic, and I was privileged to see her grow in her endeavors and her passions for them. She spoke to me about her love of bicycling, and most of all, of the love she had for Karen. We joked around about many things, and teased about others. Her loss will be felt by many, and it will be hard to replace her, and remember not to see her occasionally. Kindra, I'll always remember your kindness and patience for "dork" as you liked to call me,"" Miss Hi, mi nombre is Kindra". R.I.P. Kindra!

I remember when I first met Kindra. She brought her father into a lounge I was working in . It was his birthday. I carded Kindra and not her father and her dad said "hey why aren't you carding me? I'm young". Kindra and I both looked at her dad and smiled. That day changed my life for ever. Little did I know that I would be blessed with a new family. Phil ( her dad ) and I were married a year and a half later. I remember always telling Kindra that when I was angry at her dad that it was her fault for bringing him into my life that day. We always laughed at that. I would also thank her over and over again for bringing in the love of my life . She always smiled and said she was happy for her dad and me. Wh…