Jeff was my son's day nurse for the last two days of his hospitalization for surgery over the Thanksgiving holiday 2022. We had been in the hospital already for almost two weeks. My mom had been with us until she had to go home on the morning we first met Jeff. Every time he came into our room, he made it clear that he felt a connection to my son. He bonded with him almost instantly and treated him like he was his little brother. He went out of his way to spend time with him so I could take a couple of breaks. He took my son on several walks around the unit and introduced him to other members of the team. He supported us with compassion and expertise at every step of the way as my son and I both struggled to adjust to the new ostomy and all the bag emptying and bag changes.

At each shift change, Jeff introduced us to our new nurses and ensured us that he was friends with each of them and that we would be in great hands. And we were. It was as though he took the time fill them in on his regard for my son and me, and they took his care for us seriously, stepping up to give us superior care in his absence. My son was so connected to Jeff that on the day we were discharged he told Jeff he'd come back the next day to see him. As it turned out, we ended up back on River 5 far sooner than we planned.

The morning after we were admitted, Jeff came to visit us even though he wasn't assigned to our care. He brought some friends who also remembered my son and they all talked with us like we were favorite old friends. It brought a warmth and light to what was otherwise a pretty rough day for us. Jeff explained that he was on patient resource and discharge duty, but he worked make sure we were well taken care of and that he would come visit us again.

Not only did Jeff visit again, parking his laptop next to my son’s bed while I went to have breakfast in the cafeteria with a friend, but he took the afternoon split shift and became our nurse. My son was in pretty poor spirits and cranky, very different from the gregarious little boy Jeff spent time with before. But Jeff didn't bat an eye at my son’s moody ways. He consistently showed compassion and empathy and encouraged my son at every hard moment. Jeff was scheduled to go off duty at 7pm, but stayed to support us until midnight. We both fell asleep before 10pm, and in the morning we found the kindest note to my son from Nurse Jeff, expressing Jeff's sadness that my son had to be back so soon, but also telling him how much he enjoyed being his nurse and that he was such a cool kid. And that he had enjoyed spending time with him.

Furthermore, every nurse we have had since then has told us that they are friends with Jeff and that Jeff told them all about my son and me. Each one has gone out of their way to give us exceptional care, even when their patient loads were high. They told my son that they were in contact with Jeff, letting them know that they were taking good care of him for Jeff. Every nurse on this floor that we have encountered has been inspired by Jeff's connection to my son.

Nurse Jeff has directly inspired each and every one of them to bring their very best to the table on behalf of my son and me. His exemplary leadership has given me and my son the gift of peace and connection during an extremely discouraging and difficult experience. Coming back so soon under frightening and discouraging circumstances, only to be greeted with open arms, friendly smiles, and genuine affection made it almost ok that we were back so soon. We almost hope we get to stay long enough to see him one more time before we go home, this time we hope for much longer.

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My son’s nurse Jeff is caring and fun! He has made our stay better on the surgical floor. He brings us yummy hospital treats and he wrote a nice note to my son that we hung up on wall to see. He also played a nice uplifting positive song for my son. We request him on the days he’s working. The days he doesn’t have my son as a patient he always stops in to say hi and sits for a bit which means a lot and is healing that my son has a friend in Jeff. Thank you, Jeff!