We cannot thank you enough for the excellent care we received while our mother was admitted to Seidman, following a surgical procedure. Not only were the post-op nurses fantastic, but they did it all with a smile…sharing what the next steps would be, how long until a room would be ready, and who would be helping us in the interim. Once Mom was settled into her room, we immediately felt comfortable with the competent staff and the quality care she received. Throughout her two-week stay, we felt like we had become part of a small community of skilled friends we had come to know and rely on for support and guidance (or who seemed to make our time here more manageable)…your UH nurses, aids, PT/movement, ileostomy nurses, housekeeping, and even the valet. 
 
Leading the way were two very special nurses who both went above and beyond, Carlton and Stephanie. From the moment we met Carlton, he put our minds at ease with answers to our questions, details of what we missed throughout the night, thorough explanations of all that was happening with Mom’s progress, and a calming nature when issues arose or there were delays in her healing. Stephanie approached Mom’s care with enthusiasm and passion, revealing a deep love for all that she provides to her patients. She helped us in setting some challenging goals, and was a stickler for making good choices which ultimately led to achieving (said goals) what was necessary to continue to move forward. This dynamic duo provided us with the perfect combination of tough love and compassion we all needed to feel confident and comfortable with the new normal we would be facing following her discharge. 
 
We’d also like to give a big shout-out to Beth, a member of your ileostomy team. Beth approached mom with her warmth and kindness, paired with a can-do attitude. She was strong with her words and overall knowledge, but her calm is what gave mom confidence as she was tasked with her own self care and bag management and charting. She was patient, organized, and clear in her instructions…and the first to cheer her on when she changed the bag on her own.
 
Lastly, we have to acknowledge our surgeon, Emily Steinhagen, and her entire team. Emily was there every step of the way. She was direct but never alarming. She shared what she expected to find prior to surgery and confirmed following the procedure. We never felt rushed and always felt worthy of her attention. She was open to answering our questions and addressed all of our concerns. She was patient and understanding, but firm in what needed to take place. She wanted to be certain we were all given the information we needed to aid in Mom’s recovery and make sure we were provided with the best possible care. She and her team knew just how to treat their patients, as well as anticipating what their needs might be while in the hospital as well as following discharge. Mom always felt confident in her abilities and her expertise and appreciated all that she provided as a doctor and a caregiver.
 
Again, thank you for providing us with the best possible experience we could have had, during one of the most difficult times our family has faced. As we move forward with Mom’s healing and make plans to return home, we will forever be grateful for the kindness & care, the knowledge & expertise, and the support & compassion you all have provided. We appreciate you and will always remember the positive difference you have made in our lives.