Spotlighting HERstory: Celebrating Women's History Month - Kim
March 30, 2021
Kim Blay is a neonatal advanced practitioner who supports the Child Life Program at GBMC. Giving and compassionate, she serves all children, no matter who they are. Regardless of their age, color, or creed, if a child is in need, she is one of the first to volunteer her help.
Kim comes to work with a dedicated, cheerful demeanor. She wants to help others and ensures that not only are her patients well cared for, but that her colleagues are cared for, too.
She performs an amazing amount of community service. Last year, Kim hand-decorated a tree for the Kennedy Krieger Festival of Trees in honor of her daughter, Zara, who passed away two years ago. The decorated trees are then sold to raise money for the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Kim has also traveled outside of the country to Campamento El Guacio in Puerto Rico. After the recent earthquakes, she raised money to participate in a mission trip to give back to the people of the country. She spent a full week there (but much longer preparing to go) helping a local farmer who was still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Kim helped with roof repair, painting, and many cleanup projects. Her team prayed and shared discussions with some of the Puerto Rican people who were incredibly grateful for their assistance. She also helped to build a roof for a half-blind woman, cleaned debris, painted, and sawed wood. She felt the immense determination of the Puerto Rican people who had no power or running water for so long.
In addition to supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as the Child Life Programs at Johns Hopkins and GBMC, Kim believes in giving the gift of life. As such, she advocates for and supports the American Red Cross as often as she can. Several times a year, including on the anniversary of her daughter's passing, she donates blood and platelets. She knows all too well how critical the need for blood products is from Zara's time in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Kim is also an advocate for The Compassionate Friends. With a network of more than 600 chapters and locations in all 50 states as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, The Compassionate Friends provides support to bereaved families after the death of a child. Kim is a trusted friend to others who are going through grief. She attends a regular conferences and participates in retreats and outings.
We are thrilled to celebrate Kim as a woman of great inspiration and courage. HERstory is another great example of the phenomenal women at GBMC.
