The Children’s Minnesota Family Advisory Council developed the Excellence in Patient- and Family-Centered Care (EPFCC) Award as a way for patient families to honor those who are committed to providing exemplary care for their patients and families each day.
Nominating families are asked to describe how their nominee delivered patient- and family-centered care in relation to the four core concepts of: Dignity and respect, information sharing, participation and collaboration.
Join us in congratulating 2020’s recipient of the award: Deb Lindberg, registered nurse (RN) on 7th floor at the Minneapolis hospital. Please take a moment to read the patient family story below from Mohamed family, who nominated her.
Deb was surprised on her unit in Minneapolis when she was virtually presented with the EPFCC award and then had a video call with the Mohamed family.
The Mohamed family’s amazing experience with Deb Lindberg, RN, 2020 EPFCC Award nominee and award recipient
Luli Mohamed felt compelled to submit a nomination recognizing Deb who was a member of her son, Hudeyfa’s, care team following his prolonged hospitalization for leukemia treatment.
Hudeyfa’s hospitalization lasted six months. During this time, Luli had to balance competing priorities: Being with Hudeyfa, caring for her other children and working to maintain an income to support her family. She made the heart-breaking decision to send her other children to their father in Kenya so she could continue to work and be involved in Hudeyfa’s care as much as possible.
Recognizing the difficult circumstances Luli faced, Deb stepped in and demonstrated tremendous dignity and respect for both Luli and Hudeyfa. She recognized all that Luli was juggling when she couldn’t be at her son’s bedside. Deb stepped in and became one of Hudeyfa’s and Luli’s strongest advocates.
Deb became Hudeyfa’s primary nurse and took the responsibilities of her role to heart. She went out of her way to ensure Luli could participate in conversations about Hudeyfa’s care, even calling Luli when she was at work to share updates and ask questions. Regardless of how big or small the changes in Hudeyfa’s condition, Deb always communicated with an open and honest approach.
In addition to Leukemia, Hudeyfa also has Down Syndrome and struggled to communicate with his care team. Deb got creative and made signs for his room. One sign called out Hudeyfa’s “favorite things to do” and another listed his medical cares. Thanks to the signs, even when Deb and Luli couldn’t be in the room, Hudeyfa was able to make his wants and needs known.
In her nomination, Luli shared, “Deb was integral to Hudeyfa’s treatment and cure of his leukemia. I’m so grateful to her. She was a great support to Hudeyfa and a great support to me.”
On behalf of the Family Advisory Council and everyone at Children’s Minnesota, thank you, Deb.
