Katie Valentino
March 2017
Katie
Valentino
,
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Neuro Oncology
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Through these many months, Katie has bridged that divide from a medical professional on our team to a trusted advisor and medical friend.
We have known Katie Valentino for 14 months and to select only 1 example of why she is a DAISY Nurse is challenging. Katie has been our family's lifeline during our most difficult season of life.
Our 5-year-old son, was diagnosed with high-risk medulloblastoma in July 2015 and suffered severe posterior fossa syndrome after his resection. Between treatment and rehab, J spent 275 nights in the hospital with many ups and downs, and Katie walked through all of it with us.
When J returned to Lurie from another facility in septic shock due to institution miscommunication, Katie prepared instruction sheets on J's care to be reviewed and displayed during future visits to prevent a repeat experience.
When J's only goal in life was to get rid of the NG tube, it was Katie (and J's doctor) who championed the charge to let him try a few weeks without it. They gave him less strict weight requirements to give him the opportunity to see if he could succeed, and he did. Although it took a little time, he managed to maintain and eventually gain and hasn't had the NG since.
When we couldn't get J's nausea under control, Katie came up with new solutions to try. When I had 1000 random questions about everything from naturopathic remedies to grounding the things I was most afraid of, Katie considered all of them and never made me feel crazy. When J needed a familiar face, Katie always managed to be there.
When we were ready for J's central line to come out, tie devised a TPN step down plan that would allow us to remove the central line in time for it to heal so we could take J on a beach vacation-his the first vacation since diagnosis. Even the doctor wondered if we'd be able to hit the milestones of the plan, but Katie believed in J- the line was out and he was healed in time for the beach.
Through these many months, Katie has bridged that divide from a medical professional on our team to a trusted advisor and medical friend. The requirements for the DAISY Award are clinical expertise, leadership, patient family advocate, knowledge, excellent communication a positive force. Without a doubt, Katie possesses and exceeds all these criteria. She is an asset to Lurie and an invaluable member of our team. I wish that we had met Katie as a neighbor, or something more benign, but this is not how our story is written. If we have to be on this road, we thank GOD that our path intersects Katie's.
Our 5-year-old son, was diagnosed with high-risk medulloblastoma in July 2015 and suffered severe posterior fossa syndrome after his resection. Between treatment and rehab, J spent 275 nights in the hospital with many ups and downs, and Katie walked through all of it with us.
When J returned to Lurie from another facility in septic shock due to institution miscommunication, Katie prepared instruction sheets on J's care to be reviewed and displayed during future visits to prevent a repeat experience.
When J's only goal in life was to get rid of the NG tube, it was Katie (and J's doctor) who championed the charge to let him try a few weeks without it. They gave him less strict weight requirements to give him the opportunity to see if he could succeed, and he did. Although it took a little time, he managed to maintain and eventually gain and hasn't had the NG since.
When we couldn't get J's nausea under control, Katie came up with new solutions to try. When I had 1000 random questions about everything from naturopathic remedies to grounding the things I was most afraid of, Katie considered all of them and never made me feel crazy. When J needed a familiar face, Katie always managed to be there.
When we were ready for J's central line to come out, tie devised a TPN step down plan that would allow us to remove the central line in time for it to heal so we could take J on a beach vacation-his the first vacation since diagnosis. Even the doctor wondered if we'd be able to hit the milestones of the plan, but Katie believed in J- the line was out and he was healed in time for the beach.
Through these many months, Katie has bridged that divide from a medical professional on our team to a trusted advisor and medical friend. The requirements for the DAISY Award are clinical expertise, leadership, patient family advocate, knowledge, excellent communication a positive force. Without a doubt, Katie possesses and exceeds all these criteria. She is an asset to Lurie and an invaluable member of our team. I wish that we had met Katie as a neighbor, or something more benign, but this is not how our story is written. If we have to be on this road, we thank GOD that our path intersects Katie's.