Tess D'Angelo
February 2022
Tess
D'Angelo
,
RN
Bigelow 6, Pediatric ICU
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
Tess spent hours of each day not only tending to our girl’s constantly shifting medical needs but down on her knees on the hard tile floor coaxing C to use the bathroom, eat or drink, or try and sit up.
On a Monday my 2-year-old girl had a cough. By Wednesday she had a fever of 104.5 and on Thursday we were admitted to the Mass General Pediatric unit where things got worse and worse until she was barely conscious, and we were moved to the Pediatric ICU. C had never even been sick, so her father and I were beside ourselves with terror and confusion as the situation got worse and worse for our sweet girl. We were met in the PICU by Tess D’Angelo who would be by our side day in and day out for five more terrible days.
Every single nurse and doctor we encountered was extraordinary, not only brilliant and devoted but somehow also summoning the unique energy needed to work with very sick frightened children. No one exhibited this combination of skills, energy, and commitment like Tess. Tess spent hours of each day not only tending to our girl’s constantly shifting medical needs but down on her knees on the hard tile floor coaxing C to use the bathroom, eat or drink, or try and sit up. She worked miracles to avoid putting a single unnecessary needle into our girl to harm or frighten her any more than was necessary. I saw her somehow extract two vials of blood from C without even waking her up.
Moreover, she expended enormous thought and energy to also caring for my exhausted husband and me; bringing us food and drink clarifying everything, calming us down, helping with logistics, tidying C’s space, and just about making everything easier every step of the way. One day C kicked her peanut butter and jelly sandwich that we brought from home off the bed onto the floor; without a word Tess swooped in tossed the sandwich in the trash and disappeared momentarily returning from the staff lounge with everything to make a new one which she swiftly did and gave to my daughter. She was an unshakeable comfort, as well as an ultra-competent medical practitioner for five long days.
On her last shift with us, she came into the room in her hat and coat after her long shift had ended just to talk to us and C and say goodbye and that she knew we would be able to leave soon.
Every single nurse and doctor we encountered was extraordinary, not only brilliant and devoted but somehow also summoning the unique energy needed to work with very sick frightened children. No one exhibited this combination of skills, energy, and commitment like Tess. Tess spent hours of each day not only tending to our girl’s constantly shifting medical needs but down on her knees on the hard tile floor coaxing C to use the bathroom, eat or drink, or try and sit up. She worked miracles to avoid putting a single unnecessary needle into our girl to harm or frighten her any more than was necessary. I saw her somehow extract two vials of blood from C without even waking her up.
Moreover, she expended enormous thought and energy to also caring for my exhausted husband and me; bringing us food and drink clarifying everything, calming us down, helping with logistics, tidying C’s space, and just about making everything easier every step of the way. One day C kicked her peanut butter and jelly sandwich that we brought from home off the bed onto the floor; without a word Tess swooped in tossed the sandwich in the trash and disappeared momentarily returning from the staff lounge with everything to make a new one which she swiftly did and gave to my daughter. She was an unshakeable comfort, as well as an ultra-competent medical practitioner for five long days.
On her last shift with us, she came into the room in her hat and coat after her long shift had ended just to talk to us and C and say goodbye and that she knew we would be able to leave soon.