I have worked with Damon Thomas and Jutta Siebert for years on Stepdown. These are two phenomenal nurses. They go above and beyond for their patients and other coworkers on a regular basis. Their love and care for their patients don't end with their hospital stay in Stepdown. Both of these nurses develop friendships with their patients, often keeping up with them and their families after they're discharged. They even check in on their patients on other floors that they have transferred to, visit patients in rehab, attend funerals, and keep in touch with phone calls or texts. I've also known them to bring their patients extra pick-me-up items such as gifts or food. I'm not sure how it happens but they tend to make special connections with the same patients and they'll team up together to check in on them wherever they are in the hospital.

There was a time when a frequent flyer patient's mom would call the floor randomly from home to check in on her "kids" Jutta and Damon because of the relationship they had developed while she was here with her son. These two always have extra patience with patients that others mark as "difficult" and within taking care of them for a shift, Jutta and Damon have learned more about that patient by communicating with them and developed more of an understanding and connection than others had been able to.

Recently, Jutta baked beautiful Easter cupcakes and delivered them to a patient that had been transferred to ICU. I've also seen her bring in gifts for patients' birthdays and holidays. Not too long ago, Damon visited a coworker from a different department at his home, gifts in tow, after he had a stroke. He helped him transition into his new normal of ambulating with a walker and even helped him with tasks around his house. There are endless examples I could give of the extra care these two provide. Damon and Jutta are a blessing to Methodist North and I'm honored to work alongside them.