Ann Sievers

Ann's involvement in the care of Ms. Z is something I will never forget. I was first contacted that we had a potential laryngeal transplant patient and were waiting for a donor. The excitement on Ann's face was priceless. The thought of this procedure being done at our hospital on our patient was incredible. The preparation for such an event was coordinated by Ann every step of the way. She lived at the hospital over that weekend. Ms. Z is a patient with a long history of medical problems. It is recorded she has undergone extensive and multiple surgeries in her short life. She has had diabetes since an early age and underwent a pancreas kidney transplant approximately 4 years ago. Due to prolonged intubation during a surgery she developed tracheal stenosis and over the last few years despite numerous laser surgeries has been unable to speak. Today she presents with 100% subglottic and glottic stenosis, and was being admitted for larynx/vocal cord transplant. We waited...Then it happened over the following weekend a donor became available and Ms. Z. underwent a 12 hour surgery. The days and weeks following her surgery were amazing to watch. Once she made it out of ICU she came to the unit where her recovering began. Ann took her to the ENT clinic several times to scope her and look at the new structure. After her 3rd visit to the clinic, Ann smiling, summoned me to the room. Ms. Z put her finger over her trach and said good morning to me calling me by name. The elation on Ann's face is indescribable. Of course we all expressed our happiness for her at the thought of her airway being open and her ability to speak without an electro larynx. Over the next few days Ms. Z became stronger and stronger and ready for discharge. Ann's involvement and coordination in the historical event is unprecedented. She was at the bedside teaching her, speaking to the family and even washing and braiding her hair. She was encouraging, nurturing and firm when it warranted. The success of this transplant is of course due to the skilled surgical hands. However, the recovery period where Ann played a significant role was remarkable.