While 2020 has been heavy with worry thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital has reason to celebrate. The hospital has surpassed a full year—a record—without having a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in any patients.
Debi Kienstra, RN, BSN, was so immersed in her daily work caring for patients at Ranken Jordan that she nearly missed a special ceremony honoring her as the hospital’s second DAISY Award winner. In fact, she didn’t even know she was nominated for the award.
We’re privileged to care for some of the most medically complex children every single day. As we enter Hospital Week, I am in awe at the resilience and determination of each team member has demonstrated this past year, especially these past few months. Your hopeful spirits are contagious. Just look at Lisa Wana, one of our extraordinary children who has shown us what can happen when we never give up.
On Thursday, May 7th, Ranken Jordan will participate in Give STL Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event to support non-profits in the Greater St. Louis area. We are grateful for the St. Louis Community Foundation’s leadership in proceeding with Give STL Day, as well as to the Berges Family Foundation for being the Give STL Day presenting sponsor. Our hearts go out to everyone across the world afflicted directly or indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whitney Nolden, a dietary cook at Ranken Jordan, passed the big fish onto Stephen Ogero who is part of our wonderful facilities team. Stephen is a hard worker who enjoys meeting the needs of others. He is patient, kind and thoughtful to everyone he encounters and is a shining example of Ranken Jordan’s FISH philosophy that includes Play, Make Their Day and Choose Your Attitude.
Creating fun for the kids at Ranken Jordan looks a little bit different these days as we do our best to protect our community from COVID-19. Trinity Bennett, who is on the Board for All Abilities STL and has her own small businesses, knew our kids could use some use some entertainment and offered to pull out some of her tricks to put a smile on their faces, from a distance, of course. Each year, Ranken Jordan partners with All Abilities STL to offer an inclusive trick or treating opportunity for the community, and from that experience, Trinity knew she was the perfect person to offer her services to entertain our fragile community. Before we knew it, a dinosaur appeared in our windows, dancing and showing messages for the children and staff at Ranken Jordan.