February 2021
Jeff
Dangelo
,
BSN, RN
Surgical
Seattle Children's
Jeff, our amazing bedside RN, continued to step-up and provide not only a listening ear but someone who dove into every question a worried mom and patient asked and provided answers.
Our daughter came in for spinal fusion surgery expecting a typical recovery. Her recovery has been anything but typical. As she began to try to work with PT, we learned something more significant was going on at baseline. Orthopedics, Neurology, and Cardiology were all consulted to try to piece it together. She came in for spinal fusion and stayed hospitalized for POTS. With this new diagnosis, we found ourselves navigating a different, unknown journey.
Jeff, our amazing bedside RN, continued to step-up and provide not only a listening ear but someone who dove into every question a worried mom and patient asked and provided answers. His answers came in encouraging signs for our sweet girl (medication listed under cheerleader signs) and bullet point printouts for her Type-A mom.
He set clear daily goals for her to achieve and had celebrations with each milestone met. Jeff assisted in attending all rounds so he could help a tired mom advocate and ensure questions, concerns, and next steps were addressed.
As she began to take beta-blocker medication, he stepped up again to draw a diagram to help explain to our girl exactly how the medication worked - knowing her interest to work in medicine someday.
With each passing day, our girl became a bit wearier but every shift that Jeff walked in, her spirits lifted as she said "Today will be a GOOD day!"
As we began to think about transitioning home, Jeff assisted in coming up with a transportation plan that kept her safety as a top priority.
While we walked into spinal fusion surgery, our girl would be going home with a wheelchair transported via ambulance. Jeff somehow even made that tolerable to a 14-year-old competitive cheerleader - who is used to not only walking but tumbling, stunting, and traveling.
As he walked out after his last shift, we both became teary knowing that would be it.
We're not sure how we can adequately thank him for all his education, encouragement, and partnership in our medical journey.
Perhaps an award will be a small step. Perhaps knowing he changed the way our girl looks at the hospital, medicine, and her desire to one day work here. "Mom, maybe, just maybe, I can work with Jeff! Imagine all he could teach me as a nurse!"
Jeff, our amazing bedside RN, continued to step-up and provide not only a listening ear but someone who dove into every question a worried mom and patient asked and provided answers. His answers came in encouraging signs for our sweet girl (medication listed under cheerleader signs) and bullet point printouts for her Type-A mom.
He set clear daily goals for her to achieve and had celebrations with each milestone met. Jeff assisted in attending all rounds so he could help a tired mom advocate and ensure questions, concerns, and next steps were addressed.
As she began to take beta-blocker medication, he stepped up again to draw a diagram to help explain to our girl exactly how the medication worked - knowing her interest to work in medicine someday.
With each passing day, our girl became a bit wearier but every shift that Jeff walked in, her spirits lifted as she said "Today will be a GOOD day!"
As we began to think about transitioning home, Jeff assisted in coming up with a transportation plan that kept her safety as a top priority.
While we walked into spinal fusion surgery, our girl would be going home with a wheelchair transported via ambulance. Jeff somehow even made that tolerable to a 14-year-old competitive cheerleader - who is used to not only walking but tumbling, stunting, and traveling.
As he walked out after his last shift, we both became teary knowing that would be it.
We're not sure how we can adequately thank him for all his education, encouragement, and partnership in our medical journey.
Perhaps an award will be a small step. Perhaps knowing he changed the way our girl looks at the hospital, medicine, and her desire to one day work here. "Mom, maybe, just maybe, I can work with Jeff! Imagine all he could teach me as a nurse!"