A Thank You from a Nurse at Shriners Hospital for Children

I wanted to take a moment and express my appreciation to the members of The Edge youth group at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. I am a charge nurse at Shriners Hospital for Children, where we provide free care to pediatric patients who suffer from burns, spinal cord injuries and various orthopedic conditions. These children, particularly those with spinal cord injuries and burns, often have a tough time with thermoregulation. While it is easy to raise a thermostat and warm up a hospital room, it is not always so easy to help a child who is just too warm cool down. The Edge launched a campaign to raise funds by collecting recyclables and provided oscillating fans for one of the units at the hospital. I want them to know how appreciated their contribution is and how important their work is. Not only will these fans provide cool air to those who are unable to cool off themselves, some children have a hard time sleeping in the strange hospital environment, and the “white noise” of a fan provides comfort enough to let them rest.

In addition, I would like to publicly thank the adult members of the SVDP community, particularly Bill and Ellen Moe and Tanya Werner, for their participation in this project. I am so appreciative of the mentorship and guidance they provide our children, and feel very blessed to have them be a part of my children’s lives.

Again, on behalf of myself and the nurses of the Med/Surg Unit at Shriners, a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to you all.

Maxine Scheiber