Dede has provided outstanding care to my daughter for the last three years. In June 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, she was born--and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia the very next day. My husband and I repeatedly told ourselves that we were lucky because it wasn't a life-threatening illness. Logic doesn't always win, however, and we were incredibly anxious about our baby girl's next steps and prognosis. She had a special harness for the first four months of her life. With this came a host of questions and concerns, but Dede was always there to help, no matter how trivial the questions might seem. Since her office was an hour from our house, she would generously schedule Zoom calls with me every few weeks, just to check the fit of the brace and advise if we needed to adjust it.

About a year and a half after the harness was removed, her dysplasia was back and it was recommended she have surgery on both hips. Again, Dede was there with helpful advice and calm compassion, no matter what we needed. Both surgeries were a success, and she is on the road to recovery. Putting your three-year-old daughter through two surgeries is an incredibly stressful, scary experience. I'm so thankful that Dede was part of our incredible care team, because she truly made this process easier. Dede exemplifies all the traits that I could have possibly hoped to find in a nurse whom my family relied on--compassion, empathy, responsiveness, knowledge, patience, and incredible communication skills. Thank you, Dede! We are truly grateful for you.