Hospital staff at Lenmed Hospital were praised for going above and beyond after they made one wife’s time during her husband’s surgery that much easier with their kindness!
Lenasia, South Africa (31 October 2024) — Hospital staff are inundated with pressure, huge amounts of responsibility and, of course, matters of life and death. Because of this, there’s an unspoken understanding many of us have when a hospital worker isn’t exactly the captain of the friendly club. But when people in such pressurized positions do take the time to go the extra mile with little acts of kindness, it can mean the world of difference. Such was the case recently for one Chareen Atherton, who couldn’t believe the way she was treated at Lenmed Hospital—for all the right reasons.
Chareen’s husband Steve had been admitted to have a neck operation earlier this month. It wasn’t the couple’s first rodeo with hospital trips either, as Chareen shares, explaining that Steve has been around the block when it comes to ops at different hospitals.
But Lenmed proved to be an experience she wouldn’t soon forget, purely because of all the little acts of consideration and kindness that the staff showcased!
Chareen shared how everyone, from Dr Dasi to her receptionist Tarini and Njabulo Ntuli, the night nurse, made her husband’s time (and hers) that much either. Not only because they took on a lot of the extra stress factors like dealing with the medical aid and keeping Chareen and Steve informed of all the updates throughout the process, but also because of Njabulo, who played a big role in offering a worried Chareen relief on surgery day.
“He needs an extra-large solid gold medal,” says Chareen in reference to the outstanding night nurse.
“He called me late at night to tell me Steve had arrived at ICU and was awake, but that he did not have his cell phone yet and that I could call him for a few, a quick call on [Njabulo’s] personal phone.”
“This is going beyond the call of service. This is him having such compassion, [knowing] how it feels sitting worrying at home not knowing what’s going on… Just hearing his voice made all those fears disappear. I can not thank this man enough. These are things that make your hospital stand out. Your staff! And Njabulo,” Chareen praised.
Charlene continued to express her appreciation for all the staff in the hospital’s ecosystem—each of whom contributed positivity in their own styles, all the way to the cleaners and car park attendants.
She shared how their energy made a massive difference; a difference that can make a tough time that much easier.
“[All the staff are] happy to help and engage and laugh. What a small thing, but [it] goes such a long way! Shows me how happy they are to be there! What a difference.”
It’s a reminder that an extra smile does count. A helping hand through something small can be a big deal and a caution to all of us that no matter what it is we do, we have the power to add a little relief to someone else’s day at any point in time.
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