A Shout Out to Renee

Lately Maya’s liver enzymes have been elevated for unknown reasons, which means we head down to Dayton Children’s Medical Center about once a week for lab draws. The results are analyzed and sent to Cincinnati Children’s for review. I have never been shy about extolling the virtues of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, but I haven’t been a huge fan of Dayton Children’s until recently. That could stem from the fact that they are not a transplant center and we have, quite honestly, received sub-par care there in the past. However, that isn’t what I want to focus on currently. For the most part, the phlebotomists that we have encountered during the last few years have been awesome. (Still not a fan of some of the nurses and doctors, but again, I’m trying to focus on the positive.) It seems to me that the hospital has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts lately. The personnel in general have been more friendly and informative – and that is very apparent at the check in at the lab when we go to register for labs.

One day last week we were registering and the woman who was getting us checked in was awesome. She is a kindergarten teacher and also works at the hospital part time. That intrigued Maya, who is going to be in kindergarten this fall. She is also convinced that she is going to have multiple careers all at the same time: she wants to be a doctor, nurse, blood taker (phlebotomist), and book writer (author) concurrently. The woman behind the counter was proof positive to Maya that people can work as many jobs as they want to. Anyway the woman, Renee, noted that Maya’s birthday was just around the corner. She asked what Maya wanted. Maya rattled off a plethora of wishes including more Barbies (God help me), DS games, and a Zebra Pillow Pet (that was a new one to me).  We made conversation for a few more minutes and then waited for the tech to call us back. I didn’t give the conversation a second thought. (Maya’s birthday list was already ingrained into my head for the most part, as she has been telling me what she wants EVERYDAY for weeks.)

Fast forward to a week later, when we had to go back for MORE labs. Renee checked us in again and she remembered Maya. After she checked us in, we sat in the waiting area and waited for the tech to call us back. A few moments later, Maya’s name was called. As we walked back to the dreaded room for the blood draw, Renee walked up to us with a smile….and a Zebra Pillow Pet in her arms, which she gave to Maya. Maya was so incredibly excited and happy. So was I. Renee’s gift brought me to tears, but in a good way. My daughter was so excited that she barely made a sound when they took her blood. Her new Pillow Pet (she named it Zeebree), has not left her side.

As the parent of a child who was saved from a certain death due to a rare liver disease, I know how lucky I am. Maya is aware of it as well. The doctors and nurses involved in her care are truly lifesavers. But we are also lucky to have people like Renee in the world, a woman who had one conversation with my beautiful, brave, and bubbly daughter and wanted to help bring a little bit more joy into her world. I look back on the struggles my daughter has endured because of her health and her transplant and I am amazed in the ways that she has touched others around her. Maya rarely meets a stranger, and Renee is one of many people we have met along the way who have made our journey such an incredible experience. So thank you, Dayton Children’s Medical Center, for hiring Renee, a woman who is an awesome asset to your hospital. And thank you Renee, for lighting up my daughter’s face with a smile so bright. Once again I am reminded of how blessed we are.