Celebrate Excellent Care: My flight to Beebe

Almost five weeks ago, I was preparing to board a plane for a return flight from Tampa, Fla., to Philadelphia Airport to return home to southern Delaware. The day before, I had no appetite and during the night I tossed and turned with a fever and chills. I slept for most of the duration of the flight and when I awoke to get up, my lower right side was sore and tender.

Waiting for my luggage, I googled my symptoms, and acute appendicitis was the result! With the assistance of others, I loaded my luggage into my car and knew it was time to head to Beebe.

As I entered the Emergency Department waiting room, I was met with a smile and only waited 10 minutes before I was greeted by Dr. Nicholas Perchiniak. He clearly explained they would conduct a battery of tests. My sister and family joined me for support.

After all my tests were completed, Dr. Erik Stancofski appeared and announced that my appendix had begun to burst and needed to be removed as soon as possible. I was scheduled for surgery. Before I knew it, I was talking with Dr. Thomas Kelly, who explained how the anesthesia would work, and then I woke up in recovery. I was happy to learn the surgery was able to be done by laparoscopy instead of a large incision that would have added weeks to my recovery.

As I moved to my room on the third floor, I soon began to learn the rhythm of the floor. The CNAs and nurses switched shifts every 12 hours and would meet in my room in front of me to explain my condition, my status and what needed to be done. All during the day and night, they checked my vitals and responded to my call bell whenever I needed assistance. Each day, the doctor on call would give me an update. Each day, my food was delivered with a smile and my room was cleaned. The care and attention were constant and compassionate.

As a Beebe team member and the director of development for the Beebe Medical Foundation, it was a firsthand learning experience for me to truly see my fellow team members in action. I have to admit that this was my first surgery ever and my first time being admitted to a hospital. I soon learned that this was not only going to be an excellent experience clinically for me but an even better learning experience. I have always heard the amazing stories from our donors about the excellent and compassionate care they have received from Beebe team members, but now I was the recipient.

It was a bit odd to walk the hallways in my hospital gown instead of my suit, but listening and observing Beebe team members caring for patients was fascinating and inspiring. Doctors appeared on the floor all hours of the weekend checking in on their patients. I knew I wanted to recognize the Beebe team members who cared for me and I began writing a list of their names, but after four days in the hospital I gave up after my list grew to three pages. I then decided I would recognize the entire floor of 3 MS for their great teamwork under the direction of Margaret Porter, RN.

Last week, I returned to the third floor not in a hospital gown, but back in my suit to attend their staff meeting. I wanted to personally thank each of them for their care and let them know I choose to make a donation in their honor through the Beebe Medical Foundation’s Celebrate Excellent Care program. It was so nice to reconnect with them and share my story. It certainly was a great step in my healing process, and it felt good to come back and say thank you.

Now, I join the countless Beebe donors who have over the years donated in honor of team members because of the great care and compassion received at Beebe. I feel even more qualified to raise funds at the foundation now that I have personally experienced the excellent care of Beebe team members.

It is so important to say thank you to those who are always there for us at our time of need. We all need Beebe for ourselves and family members, and it is equally important to remember Beebe needs our support financially. Just like each of us donates to our local volunteer fire department or church, our hospital needs strong support from everyone to continue to meet the needs of our growing community.

If you are grateful to Beebe and the excellent care you have received, I strongly encourage you to take the time to thank Beebe team members and make a gift in their honor. I can tell you it makes their day! For more information about the Beebe Medical Foundation or to recognize a Beebe team member through the Celebrate Excellent Care program, call the foundation at 302-644-2900 or go to beebefoundation.org.

Thomas J. Protack is director of development at Beebe Medical Foundation.