Javier Ballon De La Cruz
June 2023
Javier
Ballon De La Cruz
,
BSN, RN
ICU
West Kendall Baptist Hospital
Miami
,
FL
United States
He was not only skilled but kind. He was very generous with his time and took the time to greet all of his guests and family members. He was attentive to his needs and always made sure that he was attended to.
I would like to nominate Javier Ballon De La Cruz for the DAISY Award for his extraordinary care of my dad when he was hospitalized in the ICU for a high-grade large bowel obstruction. When my dad was admitted, we worked together in the ICU. I was called by my mom that he was in the ER, and I immediately had a panic attack. He was admitted to the ICU and over the course of nine days, stayed and underwent two procedures, including a stoma creation and ostomy placement. Javi waited for me to finish my shift and took me down to see my family.
Javier took care of my father for seven of the nine days he was hospitalized. My dad describes Javi as a kind soul, always taking his time to ensure he understood what was going on, addressing all his concerns, and ensuring he felt heard. He took the time to sit with my Dad and listen to all his stories, and allayed his anxiety every night he worked with him. There was a night that my Dad was experiencing so much discomfort from the bowel prep. I was working and became so nervous that I blanked out and felt that everything I knew went down the drain. When the intensivist rounded, she thought it was a gas pain and did not intervene. When the discomfort got worse, Javi called the surgeon to advocate for my Dad and placed the NGT on suction, and stayed with my Dad until he felt better and was sleeping.
He was my Dad’s nurse when he came back from surgery and made sure my Dad was pain-free and had optimal rest. That same day my Dad returned from surgery, Javi created a way for my Dad to practice ostomy care using a cardboard box and an ostomy sample, something that my Dad used and kept to this day. After seven days, my Dad mentioned that he was excited to go home and take a shower, because in the ICU, there were none. Javi called the House Supervisor and PCS from 4 East to coordinate a time for him to shower in the morning.
One thing that my Dad told people is that he knows that Javi is a compassionate nurse because he was very particular about the details. Javi always brought my Dad Q-Tips every morning when he would offer hygiene care and my Dad appreciated that so much. Every night he worked, my Dad was so happy to have his Q-Tips in the morning. He was so appreciative of all the little things that Javi did for him.
My whole family is thankful for the care that Javi provided. He was not only skilled but kind. He was very generous with his time and took the time to greet all of his guests and family members. He was attentive to his needs and always made sure that he was attended to. He also made sure we, as his family members, were okay – he took me home on days that I had no ride or car, kept us updated on the plan of care, and allowed us (a family of healthcare providers, my mom and I are nurses, and my brother is a physical therapist) to just be family members. We are forever grateful for Javi for all that he did for my Dad and our family. He is an amazing nurse, and I am so happy I know him not only as a coworker but as a friend.
Javier took care of my father for seven of the nine days he was hospitalized. My dad describes Javi as a kind soul, always taking his time to ensure he understood what was going on, addressing all his concerns, and ensuring he felt heard. He took the time to sit with my Dad and listen to all his stories, and allayed his anxiety every night he worked with him. There was a night that my Dad was experiencing so much discomfort from the bowel prep. I was working and became so nervous that I blanked out and felt that everything I knew went down the drain. When the intensivist rounded, she thought it was a gas pain and did not intervene. When the discomfort got worse, Javi called the surgeon to advocate for my Dad and placed the NGT on suction, and stayed with my Dad until he felt better and was sleeping.
He was my Dad’s nurse when he came back from surgery and made sure my Dad was pain-free and had optimal rest. That same day my Dad returned from surgery, Javi created a way for my Dad to practice ostomy care using a cardboard box and an ostomy sample, something that my Dad used and kept to this day. After seven days, my Dad mentioned that he was excited to go home and take a shower, because in the ICU, there were none. Javi called the House Supervisor and PCS from 4 East to coordinate a time for him to shower in the morning.
One thing that my Dad told people is that he knows that Javi is a compassionate nurse because he was very particular about the details. Javi always brought my Dad Q-Tips every morning when he would offer hygiene care and my Dad appreciated that so much. Every night he worked, my Dad was so happy to have his Q-Tips in the morning. He was so appreciative of all the little things that Javi did for him.
My whole family is thankful for the care that Javi provided. He was not only skilled but kind. He was very generous with his time and took the time to greet all of his guests and family members. He was attentive to his needs and always made sure that he was attended to. He also made sure we, as his family members, were okay – he took me home on days that I had no ride or car, kept us updated on the plan of care, and allowed us (a family of healthcare providers, my mom and I are nurses, and my brother is a physical therapist) to just be family members. We are forever grateful for Javi for all that he did for my Dad and our family. He is an amazing nurse, and I am so happy I know him not only as a coworker but as a friend.