Thomas "TJ" Robbins
July 2019
Thomas
Robbins
,
RN
Burn Unit
Children's of Alabama
Birmingham
,
AL
United States
"Love should end with hope. Hope guides me. It is what gets me through the day and especially the night." - A Knight's Tale
Over the course of the last three weeks, our family has been blessed to receive some of the best care imaginable. The entire staff of the 9th Floor Burn Unit has been a blessing to us. At the forefront of the care has been the nursing staff. These professionals have provided support at levels that is in the truest keeping of the Nightingale Pledge. They have all left a lasting impression on our family that will not be forgotten.
There is one nurse who has distinguished himself amongst these stellar performers. Thomas, a.k.a. Mr. TJ, has cared for our son, W, and our family many times over the course of our stay with such kindness, compassion, and skill. This young man is the epitome of the spirit of nursing. He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his patients and their loved ones. At no point did he not have a smile on his face. In W's worst hours, TJ patiently tended to him; doing his best to help alleviate his suffering. Every time he left the room, TJ asked, "Is there anything I can get you?". When he asked this simple phrase, we knew he genuinely meant what he said. Even when not assigned as W's nurse, TJ came by to see how he was doing, praise him for the accomplishments of the day, and offer words of encouragement for continued recovery. While short, these interactions lifted W's and all of our spirits.
The praise we bestow upon all of the staff, but especially TJ, is not without previous experiences. Our family has known the inside of other children's hospitals for far too long. With our eldest, we spent many nights pacing the floor of the PICU and Oncology Units. Previously, we have been blessed with nurses and staff of the highest caliber. To say that T J has met the high standards expected based on previous experiences would be an understatement. He has exceeded them in every possible measure. While our time with TJ has been relatively short, the impact he has left on our family will be everlasting.
Over the course of the last three weeks, our family has been blessed to receive some of the best care imaginable. The entire staff of the 9th Floor Burn Unit has been a blessing to us. At the forefront of the care has been the nursing staff. These professionals have provided support at levels that is in the truest keeping of the Nightingale Pledge. They have all left a lasting impression on our family that will not be forgotten.
There is one nurse who has distinguished himself amongst these stellar performers. Thomas, a.k.a. Mr. TJ, has cared for our son, W, and our family many times over the course of our stay with such kindness, compassion, and skill. This young man is the epitome of the spirit of nursing. He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his patients and their loved ones. At no point did he not have a smile on his face. In W's worst hours, TJ patiently tended to him; doing his best to help alleviate his suffering. Every time he left the room, TJ asked, "Is there anything I can get you?". When he asked this simple phrase, we knew he genuinely meant what he said. Even when not assigned as W's nurse, TJ came by to see how he was doing, praise him for the accomplishments of the day, and offer words of encouragement for continued recovery. While short, these interactions lifted W's and all of our spirits.
The praise we bestow upon all of the staff, but especially TJ, is not without previous experiences. Our family has known the inside of other children's hospitals for far too long. With our eldest, we spent many nights pacing the floor of the PICU and Oncology Units. Previously, we have been blessed with nurses and staff of the highest caliber. To say that T J has met the high standards expected based on previous experiences would be an understatement. He has exceeded them in every possible measure. While our time with TJ has been relatively short, the impact he has left on our family will be everlasting.