Page 33 - Waterfall City Issue 6 June 2023

A family’s gratitude
A family whose child was recently above and beyond the call of duty
cared for in the paediatric ICU at time and again. We update each
Netcare Waterfall City explains the other on each patient, sometimes
difference nursing care made to their minute by minute, and have such
family’s experience: “The nurses were strong systems in place that our
very friendly towards us, gave us teamwork takes caring for our
updates on how our child was doing,” patients to an almost intuitive level,”
said the family, who prefer not to be she adds.
named.
“Although we see so many beautiful
“When he was moved to another big recoveries and stories of hope,
need the humility to continuously oscillating machine, we were confused emotions can run high in the
learn from your team and share your as to whether our son was getting paediatric ICU, and it can be stressful
knowledge so we can all grow from worse or better, but nurse Sibusiso and frustrating for parents when
our experience and do the best for our was very kind and came to us and their children are very sick. It is our
little patients. explained everything in detail. He responsibility to walk a mile in their
assured us that our son was getting shoes and be there for the mothers
“Teamwork is critical because we all the best care possible, and we left the and fathers in the tough times too.”
bring different strengths, and our hospital feeling much better knowing
combined forces make us a formidable what was happening. Overall, we are Nurse Xhakaza says there is no greater
team. Our patients and their parents pleased with the care our son received motivator than working to help save
become part of our paediatric ICU from the nurses, not just one but all a child’s life and nurse them back to
family too. It is understandably the nurses that took care of him. For health. “I have been in the paediatric
stressful for parents, but we offer them that, we will always be very thankful ICU for five years, and we live through
support to help alleviate their anxiety. to them.” all the emotions – hope, elation,
anxiety, and unfortunately, sometimes
“We explain how we are caring for Teamwork in the highs and grief. It gives some comfort to know
their child and not to be alarmed by lows of nursing you have tried your best to fight for
the lights and beeping of the ICU Paediatric intensivist, Dr Palesa the child’s life, but it is still devastating
machines, and they learn to trust us Monyake, praised the dedication of when we cannot save a patient. Our
and feel safe with what we are doing the paediatric ICU team. “The nurses team supports each other, motivating
for their precious little ones,” he says. are amazing, and the team goes us to keep going.”

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