Pinned with pride- Davenport nursing student reunites with her NICU nurse

Davenport University’s nursing graduate Isabella Vanklompenberg’s world has come full circle.

During Davenport’s April 18 Pinning Ceremony for its Great Lakes Bay Campus nursing graduates, Vanklompenberg was pinned by the neonatal intensive care nurse who cared for her when she was born prematurely at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

Sara Longest had just graduated from nursing school and joined the team in the NICU at DeVos Children’s when Vanklompenberg was born.

“I feel extremely thankful for all Sara has done for my family and me, and I am honored to have been able to thank her through this ceremony,” said Vanklompenberg. “My inspiration to become a nurse stemmed from the care my family and I received while I was in the NICU. I am here today because of everything Sara and the other NICU staff did for me.”

Read more about this special reunion here.