Christine Pontuso
August 2021
Christine
Pontuso
,
RN
Yawkey 4 GYN
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
Christine took the time to really listen and empathize with what I was going through and went out of her way to help me.
Sometimes things just don't go right; in my case, my surgery had major unforeseen complications that nearly cost me my life. Trying to handle the realities of an ileostomy that was not expected and both physical and emotional effects of that complication was is very hard for me. I felt very alone especially early on, but Christine took the time to really listen and empathize with what I was going through and went out of her way to help me. The level of compassion and just really being there for me when I was struggling are why she is a DAISY Nurse. She went out of her way to be present even though it was not easy by any means to do so.
When I was having significant trouble with my ileostomy pouch, she helped connect me with an ostomy nurse who helped me get much more proficient at caring for my stoma and doing my own pouching unassisted. That helped me get to a point where I could be independent and not have to lean on nurses to change my bags for me. Adjusting to any major medical crisis is very hard but it was easier because she recognized I needed support and leaned in. There were many times she was there for me when I needed it. I cannot think of someone who better exemplifies an extraordinary nurse or an extraordinary human being. I didn't know what an ileostomy was before I needed one emergently, I was a bit lost on how to care for it and she really showed up for me; if that standard doesn't represent excellence, I don't know what does.
When I was having significant trouble with my ileostomy pouch, she helped connect me with an ostomy nurse who helped me get much more proficient at caring for my stoma and doing my own pouching unassisted. That helped me get to a point where I could be independent and not have to lean on nurses to change my bags for me. Adjusting to any major medical crisis is very hard but it was easier because she recognized I needed support and leaned in. There were many times she was there for me when I needed it. I cannot think of someone who better exemplifies an extraordinary nurse or an extraordinary human being. I didn't know what an ileostomy was before I needed one emergently, I was a bit lost on how to care for it and she really showed up for me; if that standard doesn't represent excellence, I don't know what does.