Tonya Heidelbach
October 2024
Tonya
Heidelbach
,
ADN, RN
MICU
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
West Bloomfield
,
MI
United States
At that second, I knew my mother was in good hands with Tonya as I could now be my mother’s daughter instead of trying to be my mother’s nurse.
I am a wound and ostomy RN who works at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. I had the wonderful opportunity to go on an Alaskan cruise with my family including my mother and father. It was a wonderful cruise but the day after we returned, my mother got sick. Small history on my mom: She is my rock and best friend. She has pulmonary fibrosis and is immunocompromised from medicine she has to take for her rheumatoid arthritis. She is well-loved from her husband all the way down to her great -grandchildren. As her daughter and being an RN, I am always concerned about her lung health and her getting sick. And unfortunately, it happened. My mom was showing signs of confusion, which was weird for her. I brought her into the HFHWB ER in the evening. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis. I was scared! During her ER stay, she got very short of breath and they had to start her on a BIPAP machine. I called my family in as I did not know if my mom was going to live or die. My mom was admitted to the ICU.
I was extremely tired as I had not slept. Here is where I had the wonderful experience of having Tonya Heidelbach RN take care of not only my mother, but my whole family. My family and I were waiting in the waiting room while the nurses settled my mom. We were all crying and trying to talk about what happened and what could happen with my mother. Tonya came to get us and little did she know that her words would have such a profound impact on us, but they did. I’m sure Tonya could see we were upset. She stated, “Your mom looks so good, I’m not worried.” At that second, I knew my mother was in good hands with Tonya as I could now be my mother’s daughter instead of trying to be my mother’s nurse. Tonya took that off my hands. I could feel my anxiety and stress start to diminish and also I could see the relief on my families faces. Eight little words of encouragement made my morning go from terrible to tolerable. The softness of her voice, the soft look on her face, her smile, and the kindness she exhibited, was exactly what myself and my family needed at that time.
Tonya’s exemplary care did not stop there. Tonya knew my mother needed PT and she found the physical therapist on the floor and had them see my mother that day knowing my mom may not have received PT until the next day. I thought to myself, would I have done that as a nurse? Would I have gone above and beyond? Tonya’s superb care made me start to evaluate myself as a nurse. Tonya's excellent care did not stop there. I told my mother she would probably turn into a pin cushion while she was admitted as she was dehydrated and her veins were suffering from being sick. I wanted to prepare my mother for the potential problem with getting blood and pain that would come with it. Tonya proved me wrong and did not make my mother a pin cushion. Every time my mother needed blood, Tonya had the gentlest hands. She took her time and continued to ask my mom if she was causing her any pain during the blood draw. Most of the time, I see nurses blame the patient for their veins being bad, but Tonya took responsibility for making sure my mother felt comfortable, free of pain, and safe during the blood draw. My mom said she had no pain when Tonya was drawing her blood and she needed a lot of blood drawing. Tonya went on to tell the GPU nurse when my mom was transferred to get rapid response for my mother’s blood draws when needed. What a comfort it was for my mom to know she was not going to be a pin cushion and that Tonya would make sure that happened.
Tonya was my mother’s nurse for two day shifts during her stay in the ICU. From the time we came to the ICU to the minute we left, my mother, family, and I felt extremely grateful God sent us the right nurse for our needs. Tonya was kind, soft spoken, positive, caring, knowledgeable, and definitly a nurse who not only needs recognition of her exemplary care, but deserves the prestigious DAISY Award. Tonya Heidelbach is the heart of what The DAISY Award represents. I could not be more impressed. Thank you,
I was extremely tired as I had not slept. Here is where I had the wonderful experience of having Tonya Heidelbach RN take care of not only my mother, but my whole family. My family and I were waiting in the waiting room while the nurses settled my mom. We were all crying and trying to talk about what happened and what could happen with my mother. Tonya came to get us and little did she know that her words would have such a profound impact on us, but they did. I’m sure Tonya could see we were upset. She stated, “Your mom looks so good, I’m not worried.” At that second, I knew my mother was in good hands with Tonya as I could now be my mother’s daughter instead of trying to be my mother’s nurse. Tonya took that off my hands. I could feel my anxiety and stress start to diminish and also I could see the relief on my families faces. Eight little words of encouragement made my morning go from terrible to tolerable. The softness of her voice, the soft look on her face, her smile, and the kindness she exhibited, was exactly what myself and my family needed at that time.
Tonya’s exemplary care did not stop there. Tonya knew my mother needed PT and she found the physical therapist on the floor and had them see my mother that day knowing my mom may not have received PT until the next day. I thought to myself, would I have done that as a nurse? Would I have gone above and beyond? Tonya’s superb care made me start to evaluate myself as a nurse. Tonya's excellent care did not stop there. I told my mother she would probably turn into a pin cushion while she was admitted as she was dehydrated and her veins were suffering from being sick. I wanted to prepare my mother for the potential problem with getting blood and pain that would come with it. Tonya proved me wrong and did not make my mother a pin cushion. Every time my mother needed blood, Tonya had the gentlest hands. She took her time and continued to ask my mom if she was causing her any pain during the blood draw. Most of the time, I see nurses blame the patient for their veins being bad, but Tonya took responsibility for making sure my mother felt comfortable, free of pain, and safe during the blood draw. My mom said she had no pain when Tonya was drawing her blood and she needed a lot of blood drawing. Tonya went on to tell the GPU nurse when my mom was transferred to get rapid response for my mother’s blood draws when needed. What a comfort it was for my mom to know she was not going to be a pin cushion and that Tonya would make sure that happened.
Tonya was my mother’s nurse for two day shifts during her stay in the ICU. From the time we came to the ICU to the minute we left, my mother, family, and I felt extremely grateful God sent us the right nurse for our needs. Tonya was kind, soft spoken, positive, caring, knowledgeable, and definitly a nurse who not only needs recognition of her exemplary care, but deserves the prestigious DAISY Award. Tonya Heidelbach is the heart of what The DAISY Award represents. I could not be more impressed. Thank you,