My mom, my best friend, was admitted to the hospital in October 2023 for routine bowel resection surgery. After surgery she was doing well for a couple of days but then began to decline. She was not reaching the goals that were expected and started to have extreme pain. The team was so crucial in advocating for my mom and her care as her surgeon was out of state and had “covering” providers caring for her. I believe that without the consistent communication and advocation of my mom from the Swann 4 team she would not be here with me today.

One day, about a week after her surgery, my mom went down for a procedure, upon return from the procedure, her bedside nurse noticed a change in her mentality and a worsening in her vital signs, the nurse instantly notified the leadership team who ran into action immediately. I was only a couple of minutes away from the hospital but by the time I reached my mom’s room, the whole “Rapid Response Team” was in the room and transferring her to the ICU. Even during what would appear to others to be a chaotic emergency, the team remained calm, efficient, and highly professional. My mom ended up having additional surgeries due to complications, was intubated for multiple days and on life-supporting medications.

After a couple of weeks, her health was improving enough that she was able to transfer out of the ICU. She was very adamant that she wanted to be transferred back to Swann 4. She remained on Swann 4 for about another week until she was able to be discharged home. During this week, the Swann 4 team showed up again. Not only providing THE BEST care and compassion but going above and beyond. Team members took time out of their very busy days to do things like sit with her and talk, dance, and sing in her room, and they even took her outside to enjoy the amazing weather. Once she was able to start eating and drinking, unfortunately nothing tasted good to her except tea. One nurse brought her a McDonald's tea one day because she knew that it was her favorite.

As a fellow nurse, I know how strenuous and difficult providing care can be, how draining it can be at times, how emotionally exhausting it can feel, and how taxing it is on your body, but Swann 4 did all of this and more with complete professionalism, confidence, skill, and compassion. It is definitely “where expertise meets compassionate care!” I could have named each team member separately and highlighted what they each did for my mom, but it would have taken up pages and pages and pages. Swann 4’s team dynamic makes them exceptional and extraordinary! Thank you, Swann 4, for taking such great care of my mom. Thank you for giving me my best friend back.