Make a Difference Winner

One of the facts of life when working in a Children's hospital is coming face-to-face with children dealing with tough, potentially fatal illnesses. For these children and their families, the hospital staff becomes part of the extended support network that they rely on as they wage their battles. This is especially true when providing Patient Transportation services, as the transporter sees the same patients on a daily basis.often several times a day.

This is the situation Quinn Wren found herself in several months ago. There was a child in the oncology ward who was of Chinese descent, and whose family only spoke their language of origin. The child was hospitalized for quite some time, and Quinn could tell that the parents were scared, nervous, and frustrated. Not only was their child extremely ill, but they struggled continuously to communicate and understand the treatment that was being provided.

Empathizing with how the child and family must feel, Quinn decided to do something about it. She purchased a book that would help her learn the fundamentals of their language. She made flash cards of simple sentences and studied them whenever she could. It wasn't uncommon to see her practicing these phrases between transports or during her breaks.

Within two weeks, Quinn was fluent enough to begin communicating effectively with the patient and the parents. The ability to finally carry on a conversation, regardless of how basic, provided this family with much needed relief. Needless to say, whenever their child needed to be transported for treatment or testing, Quinn was requested.

This type of dedication and compassion is what really makes a difference in the lives of the patients we serve. Quinn recognized that regardless of national origin,we all share the same heart. Well done, Quinn!