May 2024
Jodi L
Perez De La Torre
,
MSN,RN
Nursing G21
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston
,
TX
United States
My husband had COVID-19, and unfortunately, we did not see nursing staff as much as I thought we would, that is, until Jodi’s first day. She stopped in the middle of her morning rounds to help bathe, change linen, and clear the trash out of my husband’s room.
Jodi touched my husband and my hearts in a way we will never be able to explain. She went from being a nurse to becoming family the very first day she entered our room. I knew Jodi was different and that my husband was going to receive excellent care. She has a purpose and a way of getting things done in a timely, regardless of other responsibilities. My husband had COVID-19, and unfortunately, we did not see nursing staff as much as I thought we would, that is, until Jodi’s first day. She stopped in the middle of her morning rounds to help bathe, change linen, and clear the trash out of my husband’s room. The trash can was overflowing with empty isolation trash, and Jodi cleared it and five bags of linen from my husband's room on her first day. Every day that Jodi was assigned to my husband, she emptied his trash in the morning, throughout the day, and before she left, to ensure that his room was clean and tidy. Jodi refreshed his water daily, and we knew he was being taken care of. Jodi became family to us.
During one of her rounds, my husband asked if Jodi could look at a spot on my skin, and I later learned that she was a survivor of malignant melanoma. We are from Kentucky and would not be home for quite some time. Jodi graciously gave me the name and number of her dermatologist, and I scheduled an appointment for the next day. She went out of her way to take care of us and did things outside the scope of her job description.
During one of her rounds, my husband asked if Jodi could look at a spot on my skin, and I later learned that she was a survivor of malignant melanoma. We are from Kentucky and would not be home for quite some time. Jodi graciously gave me the name and number of her dermatologist, and I scheduled an appointment for the next day. She went out of her way to take care of us and did things outside the scope of her job description.