Jennifer VanderKlok (Peds)
I am writing this letter to let you know just how proud I am of your nursing and support staff in your Pediatrics ward. My son Jonathan was in the Pediatrics Unit with a spontaneous pneumothorax again from March 9-11 after surgery on his left lung. He was also there in 2007 from Sept 4-7th. This visit was to help resolve it. He was also there for about a week in August of 2008 after surgery on his right lung. Not that this was a life-threatening situation, but it does make life a bit more stressful and filled with anxiety especially since this was his 4th spontaneous pneumothroax. He had many wonderful nurses, but this letter is to share my wishes for Jennifer V. to receive a Daisy award. Jennifer isn’t just worth a Daisy Award she is worth a whole field of Daisy Awards. She is that worthy of this award and much more!
Jennifer was Jonathan’s nurse for all three prolonged visits. Jennifer isn’t just a nurse that is accommodating and eager to make things easier and less stressful for Jonathan. Jennifer is a nurse that makes sure that when his friends or family would come they would see if we had enough chairs, etc… She helped him to make the most of two situations that took him from Loy Norrix High School, miss varsity tennis, etc. and the most recent from college.

Jennifer has the compassion to make an 18-year old comforted, feel grown up and helped to draw Jonathan into his own healing process. Jennifer helped to make a spring break from Michigan Tech for a new freshman not as much as an ordeal, but a chance to see a very special nurse once again make a patient smile and deal with the pain.

My husband John and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the experience (not that we hope we ever have to do this again), but it made a bad situation better. Thanks again for the over-the-top care and medical attention from all your nurses, but especially from Jennifer V. – your very best.

Nominated by: Sveri Stromsta May