I was admitted to the D4 unit of UW Hospital for treatment and care related to internal bleeding in my upper GI tract. Over the course of the next 5 days and nights, 2 endoscopies were performed to find the source of, and stop, the bleeding. For the first 2 days and nights, I continued to lose and discharge blood. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, my blood count continued to drop to concerning levels even with blood transfusions and endoscopic work.
Throughout my stay, I was cared for by your remarkable staff of nurse practitioners, nurses, and nurse assistants. One nurse in particular, in my estimation, provided simply the best care I could have ever hoped for throughout the week. Her name is Jenna. She worked the 11pm-7am shifts, and I have no doubt you know precisely who I refer to because it is not possible she doesn't stand out on your team.
Sunday night was certainly unpleasant for me, but nothing could prepare me for the long night of Monday. My first endoscopy in the early afternoon did not stop the internal bleeding. As the day progressed my ability to care for myself diminished. As Jenna's shift began late Monday night, I quickly reached the point where I could not perform the simplest of tasks. I could not walk, stand, or really even sit up without assistance. I couldn't drink any liquids (that I recall because I'm a little fuzzy on this), my head pounded, I was disoriented, and knew that I was in really bad shape.
The first quality I noticed about Jenna is that she is at heart a caring, positive person. She is genuine. She does not possess an ounce of guile. I am a very proud man, long in years, and throughout that night I was distressed, vulnerable, humbled, and embarrassed as I lost control of my body. My humiliation was absolute. Yet, Jenna stayed positive and reassuring, displaying a level of genuine kindness that I have rarely encountered.
Through the week, shielding me from physical discomfort was more important to her than it was to me. She told corny jokes to keep things light. She was excited to share good news. While Jenna was (and I Imagine just is always) irrepressibly upbeat, she was honest and forthright, two things I badly needed, as she assured me I was going to be okay even when my condition was clearly deteriorating. And the thing is, I believed her.
Jenna cares deeply for and about her patients. She has the oh-so-rare ability to make people who feel bad somehow feel good, or at least alright. She gives people hope during very difficult times. She makes the intolerable somehow tolerable. You can't teach a person any of these qualities for they come from within. But you can acknowledge someone like Jenna for her outstanding work. And if you are me, you can be grateful that during your worst hours Jenna passed briefly through your life.