January 2019
Joanne
Dobry
,
MSN, RN
Outpatient Infusion Center
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
Baltimore
,
MD
United States
When I was 16, I started to notice that I was losing my balance. I had played soccer for over 10 years, yet suddenly, I couldn't run without falling over.
My parents took me to my neurologist, Dr. S. He checked my reflexes and found that they were basically nonexistent. He then referred me to Dr. G, who oversaw the rest of my care. After many EMGs and nerve conduction tests, as well as other various tests and opinions, I still had no diagnosis. It was not looking good, as my strength had declined as well.
At my lowest point, I could hardly walk, and couldn't stand still without tipping over.
Eventually, all of my doctors got together and decided to call it Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP. We decided to try IVIG treatment, although the doctors weren't sure it would help much, if at all.
I started my treatment 3 years ago, when I was 17, at the outpatient infusion center at Sinai Hospital. I was very nervous and terrified of needles. To make it worse, my veins just love to roll around and dodge any incoming pokes. Luckily, I met Joanne.
Not only was she good at her job, but she was also great at making me feel welcome, safe, and happy. Because of Joanne, I went from mortified of getting stuck with a needle, to actually looking forward to my next treatment.
Joanne became my "nurse mom" and requested that I be her patient every time I was there. She always made sure I had everything I needed to be comfortable, and she always made me laugh. As a 17-year-old who spent one week every month surrounded by people as old as my grandparents, I definitely felt like the odd one out. Joanne had a way of putting a smile on my face no matter what. She also celebrated with me when we realized the treatments were working!
As of today, I am officially released from the care of Dr. G, as it has been 18 months since my last treatment. Joanne (and my two doctors) really saved my life. Without them, I don't know where I would be today.
I would nominate Joanne for the best nurse in the world if I could. Her jokes and warm smile always melted away all of my stress and worries.
My parents took me to my neurologist, Dr. S. He checked my reflexes and found that they were basically nonexistent. He then referred me to Dr. G, who oversaw the rest of my care. After many EMGs and nerve conduction tests, as well as other various tests and opinions, I still had no diagnosis. It was not looking good, as my strength had declined as well.
At my lowest point, I could hardly walk, and couldn't stand still without tipping over.
Eventually, all of my doctors got together and decided to call it Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP. We decided to try IVIG treatment, although the doctors weren't sure it would help much, if at all.
I started my treatment 3 years ago, when I was 17, at the outpatient infusion center at Sinai Hospital. I was very nervous and terrified of needles. To make it worse, my veins just love to roll around and dodge any incoming pokes. Luckily, I met Joanne.
Not only was she good at her job, but she was also great at making me feel welcome, safe, and happy. Because of Joanne, I went from mortified of getting stuck with a needle, to actually looking forward to my next treatment.
Joanne became my "nurse mom" and requested that I be her patient every time I was there. She always made sure I had everything I needed to be comfortable, and she always made me laugh. As a 17-year-old who spent one week every month surrounded by people as old as my grandparents, I definitely felt like the odd one out. Joanne had a way of putting a smile on my face no matter what. She also celebrated with me when we realized the treatments were working!
As of today, I am officially released from the care of Dr. G, as it has been 18 months since my last treatment. Joanne (and my two doctors) really saved my life. Without them, I don't know where I would be today.
I would nominate Joanne for the best nurse in the world if I could. Her jokes and warm smile always melted away all of my stress and worries.