Partners in Care, Partners in Hope

The Family Advisory Council at Nationwide Children's Hospital is proud to award an annual recognition for excellence in family-centered care. This award is presented to an employee, health care provider or department of Nationwide Children's in recognition of their outstanding achievement in care that reflects excellence in the core concepts of family-centered care. Patients and/or family members of patients who have been treated at Nationwide Children’s are invited to submit nominations.

2011 Award Recipient- Christy Plank, RN

Nominated by Lee and Jean Parker

With gratitude for the personal, caring, well-informed attention she paid to our daughter, we would like to nominate Christy Plank for the Family Advisory Council’s Award of Excellence 2011.

Christy is a RN in the cardiac step-down unit (C5). I’m not sure we would have made it through a very difficult experience as well as we did if it had not been for Christy’s focus and commitment. Even in a department in which we felt very well-cared for, with doctors, nurses and support staff who we feel are some of the best we have encountered, Christy stood out.

First, a little background – when our daughter Lydia was one week old, our pediatrician expressed concern about her progress. She sent us to Nationwide Children’s emergency department the same day and within hours we had received a wholly unexpected and devastating diagnosis. Lydia had congenital heart defect. Lydia’s heart defect was subsequently treated surgically and her prognosis for a positive long-term outcome is good. Lydia’s recovery was a bit rocky though and she ended up spending ten weeks in the Cardiac Thoracic Intensive Care Unit and on C5 collectively.

As parents, both of Lydia and our three-year-old son, we felt so many emotions – shock, powerlessness, anger, grief, hope – and most of the time we were just plain exhausted. Christy was a touchstone for us – and most importantly - for our daughter during those two-and-a-half months.

Specifically, Christy shared her personal and professional experiences, letting us know what to expect prior to surgery and after we returned to her department post-CTICU. She corralled breast pumps for me, brought Lydia special items for her crib, and requested Lydia’s room during her shifts. She coached us on feeding Lydia as she struggled to relearn how to work a bottle, helped us to comfort Lydia and ease her boredom and stress and cheered her when she showed improvement. She remembered my son each time he visited – big brother felt included and reassured as a result.

Christy respected and honored our decisions and feelings. It can be difficult during a long hospital stay to always have your game face on. Several times we received unexpected, less-than-positive news. On each of those occasions, Christy gave us “permission to pout”. Just having someone say it was ok to feel a bit sorry for ourselves helped us back on our feet. I know that this understanding of what we were going through came in part from Christy’s own experience as a mother and she was able to convey her concern and understanding while always treating us – and Lydia – as individuals.

Most critically, Christy went out of her way to get to know Lydia’s “normal”. This was especially vital when Lydia first returned to C5 post-surgery still challenged – mildly – with breathing independently. Christy was the first to recognize that Lydia’s breathing was rapidly deteriorating and she helped us advocate for our daughter. As a result, Lydia was returned to the CTICU where she was subsequently diagnosed with granulomas near her voice box and underwent two surgeries to have them removed.

Our daughter is doing wonderfully at home – growing every day – and we as a family have come through the experience intact. I know we would not be in such a positive place without Christy and we hope this nomination will serve as a small demonstration of our deep gratitude.

Pictured above (from left to right): Mike Spellacy, Christy Plank, Jean Parker, Lee Parker

Award nominees included:

• Shannon Brehanne, RN - J4 NICU
• Michelle Walsh, APN - ENT
• Hem/Onc Inpatient Staff - J5
• Pulmonary Department - 5T
• Rochelle Ellis - Palliative Care Team
• Dr. Timothy Hoffman - Cardiology
• Amy McCall, RN - 4TN
• Beth Halpin, OT
• Riverside NICU Staff - Riverside NICU
• Anne Slifer, Family Mentor - J4 NICU
• Genetics Team - Department of Genetics
• Cassie Jones, Environmental Services - 4TS
• Kristina Reber, MD - NICU
• Pat Davis - Cafeteria
• Jennifer Patterson - Family Resource Center

Core Concepts and Criteria by which nominees are judged: