Christina has been a life saver for me over these last several weeks.Her patience is amazing. She calmed me down in the hospital and made my journey of ileostomy care not as scary and bearable for me. Nobody every wants to deal with having an ileostomy, and I am very thankful that it is only temporary.
I viewed her as my lifeline those first 2-3 weeks home, feeling overwhelmed and anxious about keeping my dressing dry and not leaking. I was tortured by the fear of the dressing leaking at an opportune time. Christina immediately offered her days for the week she worked and let me know that I could call any time and she would see me. This helped to settle my anxiety down and I would call sometimes feeling like I was in a panic on Sunday night knowing she would be there Monday morning to respond. This helped me sleep at night knowing I would see her the next day because weekends seemed so long.
My skin was a mess, but with her expertise we brought the skin under control around week 6, which increased my comfort and confidence in changing the dressing myself. She answered my questions without hesitation and gave excellent advice.
We have been fellow Nurses and PCCs/Charge Nurses in years past, and this was just another way I felt so comfortable with Christina because she walked in my hospital room and immediately she had compassionate eyes, a bright smile and an easy connection from our years of nursing at Delnor.
She made me feel extra special as her patient and I felt it in my bones that she makes every patient she encounters feel that special.