I’m writing about our experience as patients at Baystate Medical Center last night. I know that you will be sending a survey but thought that our experience warranted an earlier response. We were largely cared for by a nurse named Madeline Dexter.

Maddie truly holistically cared for our son, making him feel safe and understood. Maddie was introduced to his precious triceratops stuffie and immediately began including her and referring to her by name, assuring our son that they also specialized in dinosaur care. Regardless of how busy they may have been, Maddie swabbed the dinosaur, checked its vitals, gave the dinosaur medicine, and cared for it just as she did our son. Not only did this make him smile in scary circumstances, but it also made him feel as though what mattered to him also mattered to her - a wonderful place for a feeling of safety for a very scared little boy. ER visits are inherently bad. But I am very comfortable saying that this visit was an excellent experience against all odds. We were seen promptly and received the best care possible even when the department was very busy.