Tammy on 12E is what I consider a "super nurse". Our family was blessed with our 3rd child. Our daughter ended up being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAVPR), resulting in her body not receiving enough oxygen. It was a whirlwind of surgical emergencies, doctor's appointments, and for us, a ton of learning, crying, being thankful and praying. She recovered very well and we were able to take her home, but two weeks later she was admitted to a local hospital for an infection in the intestines caused by another congenital defect. It was then that we were referred to the University of Michigan, Mott Children's Hospital for a liver biopsy. The biopsy showed Biliary Atresia, and that meant that she would have to undergo a Kasai procedure, which can sometimes lead to a liver transplant in the future. At this critical time, as you can imagine, our family was very devastated and it was also the time when we needed to learn about this diagnosis and procedure. Obviously the answers didn't seem to come to us fast enough, but Tammy listened to our long-winded concerns over small and arbitrary things, to the largest, most important things like surgery and outcomes. We needed help understanding and also with finding study resources. She was, from my perspective, able to perform at a level which most nurses never achieve. It was clear Tammy had connections and relationships within the hospital, and was able to get all of our concerns and questions addressed with compassion, despite our rambling conversations.
One specific example of how Tammy is such an effective nurse, not only from the patient care perspective, but from a family care perspective, is how she handled my emotional breakdown and craziness of not wanting to leave my daughter's side. She organized for my daughter and me to have a walk together through the hospital with a stroller, which was very therapeutic for me and also allowed me to start changing my perspective. It also allowed me to be a better proactive participant in my daughter's care plan. I think that it was so important that Tammy recognized where I was at, and knew exactly what I needed! During our time under Tammy's care, our daughter was able to benefit from a feeding plan before surgery, properly coordinated surgical logistics, and in all of this, assist us with a better understanding of what to expect and how to connect with the proper people. During this entire ordeal, we had many interactions with nurses, doctors, attendants, etc, and Tammy stood out among the crowd of employees. She is a great example of a nurse being the gateway; impacting the patient and family hospital experience, and ensuring the patient receives the best care from all involved. Although we still have a long journey in front of us, including surgery, and a possible liver transplantation, Tammy has built a trust in me which will no doubt raise my opinion and trust in the nurses I will encounter in the future. This trust raises my outlook for my daughter, and her outcomes, while she is in the hands of "super nurses" like Tammy!"