Celeste D'Antonio had the opportunity to care for a patient who had a unique request. This gentleman was a patient in the hospital because he had broken his ankle and needed to have surgery to repair it. The stress of this situation as well as being out of the home environment of his boarding home was having an adverse effect on his usually well-controlled schizophrenia.
This patient was becoming more and more anxious because of the voices he was hearing. Celeste realized this was happening and made it her mission to help him through this difficult circumstance. After spending some time talking to him, she realized that music was a source of relief for him and these voices. Initially, she provided him with headphones so he could listen to the television loud enough to drown out the voices and still not disturb his neighbor. This temporary solution worked but it was not going to last for long, he was becoming bored with the programming available.
Next she came to our comfort cart and was trying to find a radio to help him through this challenge, and she was able to find a cd player and one cd of soothing music. The patient was so grateful for her efforts and could not thank her enough. He was finally able to rest comfortably and begin his healing process.
As the days wore on, he was using the cd player, but the soothing music was not powerful enough to keep drowning out his voices. He told Celeste that he needed some soul music to keep these voices quiet. She searched high and low for some soul music, asking everyone she passed if they had a cd or knew where to get one. Luckily for this man, someone was able to find a soul music cd, and he was over the moon. It so happens, that he was to be discharged the next day to a rehabilitation facility, and he was starting to be nervous that they would not have a cd player or soul music. Celeste assured him that she would not let him go without what he needed to get well.
She made sure he could be gifted the cd player and soul music cd so that his transition to rehab would go smoothly and the voices would not hinder his recovery. Celeste was his shining star that day, and she deserves recognition for her efforts to provide a therapeutic healing environment for this very satisfied patient.