We came to know Chantelle when my son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in November 2022. His initial treatment was delivered through the medical ward at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation and ulcers in the superficial lining of the colon. It's a particularly debilitating and frightening disease for a child to contend with. For over a year, my son required repeated admissions to the medical ward for endoscopy examinations and changes in treatments in an attempt to manage this lifelong condition. His treatment evolved to include monthly infusions, which required our attendance at hospital. We live in Shetland, and the travel to Aberdeen and back, along with the repeated cannulations, was very demanding and stressful.

Over the course of what has been a long treatment journey, Chantelle has demonstrated exceptional care for my son, which has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her gentle but firm demeanour and unwavering patience have created a comforting and positive environment for my son, easing his anxiety and turning each visit to hospital into a more pleasant and positive experience than it could have been. Chantelle took time to get to know my son and was very perceptive and showed considerable emotional intelligence to intervene on several occasions with the doctors and consultants charged with making treatment decisions to ensure that their communication with him was tailored in a way that his innate fears and worries weren’t escalated. Chantelle’s keen attention to detail and proactive approach helped to ensure that his medical needs were met with precision and compassion.

Beyond her technical skills, Chantelle's ability to connect with her patients on a personal level, engaging them with kind words and encouragement, has made a world of difference to us. The dedication and genuine care Chantelle demonstrates are inspiring. In the end, the medical route to manage his condition proved to be unsuccessful, and he required a total colectomy. Chantelle was present before and after the operation, making sure we were supported with the knowledge and techniques to make living with a stoma manageable. Chantelle is an invaluable asset to both her patients and the gastroenterology healthcare team at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and she deserves the recognition of the DAISY Award.