There is a patient that is in his mid-twenties that we have had on our floor since August. This patient was homeless and was brought in after being attacked and left for dead. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and although high functioning he was deemed mentally incompetent. Due to this and other social factors he has been with us for a period of time while he waited for approval of Maine care and ultimate placement in a group home. He also has a few psychiatric disorders and can be difficult at times, especially if awoken from sleep. Lynne has advocated for him on several occasions to be able to leave the hospital for special events and circumstances.
Unfortunately a couple of months into his stay, one of his best friends passed away and he wanted nothing more than to be able to attend the funeral. Lynne went to bat for him and secured a pass for him to be able to leave the hospital with the stipulation that he needed family supervision and to return to the hospital. She also advocated for him so that he would be able to leave for Thanksgiving, contacting the trauma service and arguing his case so that he would be allowed to be with his family.
More recently she pleaded his case with several of the trauma service doctors and PA's to allow him to go to a Red Claws game with his mother who had won the tickets right here at Maine Medical Center. She did not take no for an answer and after a day of going back and forth with the residents, he was allowed to attend the game; a once in a lifetime opportunity for him as he had never been to a basketball game before and something that he was still talking about days later. It was truly special for him to be able to attend with his mother as he had not had a good relationship with growing up. To spend this time with his mother, who had been battling for her own life in SCU just weeks before this, and who could have never afforded this, meant so much to this young man.
Something that is always a constant in this young patients' life is coffee. He asks for it from anyone he passes and needs to get switched to decaf in the late morning. Lynne is extremely caring with him and when he is in a bad mood or if she is going down for herself will bring him down and buy him some of the "good coffee" down at the coffee kiosk in the lobby. Her incredible caring attitude for this patient and her determination to advocate for what is best for him is what distinguishes her and why she deserves a DAISY Award.
Note: This is Lynne's second DAISY Award!