The Ilaria Jiganti Lopez Memorial Scholarship Fund

A reflection written by the Jiganti Lopez family:

Ilaria Lucia Lopez was born on December 2, 2020 to her parents Colin Lopez (BBA ’10) and Elise Jiganti (BSN ’12). Ilaria was a beautiful, full-term baby with a full head of brown hair. Elise had a good pregnancy with which Ilaria was very active throughout. However, Ilaria was tragically born a full-term stillbirth two weeks before her due date. Even after many tests no cause of death was established, which is commonly the case with full-term stillbirths.

After Ilaria made her presence felt with early kicks and flutters, there was no stopping her. The other ICU nurses Elise worked with would frequently comment on her scrub top that wouldn’t stay still. Colin and Elise enjoyed listening to music with her and quickly realized the Allman Brothers’ “Ramblin’ Man” was her favorite song, perhaps an early indication of her desire to be a Loyola Rambler like her parents one day. Because of the pandemic, there was a lot of time spent together, whether it be watching her favorite sport basketball or having books read to her.

Through the stress and isolation of the pandemic, Ilaria made everything fun. What could have been a difficult time, confined inside of an apartment became fun and exciting because of her presence. Elise worked bedside in the ICU during the pandemic and Ilaria was always certain to give her mom a reassuring punch or kick during particularly stressful shifts, as if she said, “I got your back, mom.”

Colin and Elise are so thankful for the nine months they got to spend with Ilaria, seeing her grow each day. She was always so active, making sure mom had a tough time trying to sleep in. The memories from the time spent with her will forever be with Colin and Elise.

It is easy as a bedside nurse to forget the impact that is made on patients and families. It is an eye-opening experience to be on the receiving end of care and truly experiencing the impact that good bedside nurses make on the most difficult situations. When Ilaria passed, the nurses were what got Colin and Elise through the most difficult period of their lives. It is the little, caring details that make a truly exceptional nurse.

Loyola offers an incredible education, but more importantly it offers a wide range of clinical experiences for nursing students. Understanding how to navigate patients and families’ most vulnerable moments takes time and with more experience creates a well-rounded nurse.

The Ilaria Jiganti Lopez Memorial Scholarship Fund was setup by family and friends to leave a legacy for Ilaria in perpetuity and selected to sponsor the School of Nursing because the education and experience provided by Loyola will make an impact on future nurses treating families going through similar tragedies.

Make a gift to support the Ilaria Jiganti Lopez Memorial Scholarship Fund.