November 2021 Honoree
Anne Griffin, RN, BSN, MSN
It really is a simple thing, but I attended my son's (who is an adult with cognitive impairments due to a brain injury) COVID vaccination with him. The process was all a bit overwhelming, and he was feeling stressed out. Both times Anne was the nurse giving the shots. She was super friendly, relaxed, and made my son feel at ease. She did not treat him any differently as a 30-year old disabled man then she would anyone else. He joked with her, and she joked back. We both felt like she was a friend and was most certainly the kindest part of the process.
When someone is "different", people around often react. And this was a challenging day for us. Masks, COVID, etc. have been very stressful for my son. And irritating. He does not always keep his opinions in check, due to frontal lobe issues. But Anne acted with such kindness and warmth. Her "experience" showed. I really wanted to bring her flowers because it is the little things that matter most.
When someone is "different", people around often react. And this was a challenging day for us. Masks, COVID, etc. have been very stressful for my son. And irritating. He does not always keep his opinions in check, due to frontal lobe issues. But Anne acted with such kindness and warmth. Her "experience" showed. I really wanted to bring her flowers because it is the little things that matter most.
Thank you, Anne, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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