Thank you all

I am from West Haven. I was born at Grace-New Haven Hospital. Yale-New Haven Hospital was always “there.” It was one of those places that you drive by when you get visitors from out of state. They ask to see Yale, and you drive through New Haven and show them the university and the hospital and tell them how lucky you are to have this hospital so close by. That was the extent of my connection with the hospital.

Nine years ago, my husband was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and YNHH became more than just a point of interest. Over the last nine years, my husband has spent hundreds of hours in the Emergency Department. When he went on the transplant list five years ago, we met Dr. Basadonna, one of the doctors on the transplant team. Whenever I see him, he gives me a hug and asks how my husband is.

Five years ago, I came to work as a secretary for the Yale-New Haven Hospital Day Care Center. As the secretary to the director, I have had the good fortune to meet many parents of the children that are part of our center. Although I do not have direct contact with the children, I always love talking with them and try to extend myself as a friend and a part of their day care family. Many of our parents are interns and fellows and have extremely busy lives. When they come up to the office, I always offer them a seat and try to get them to relax for a few minutes.

Last August, my 85-year-old aunt was rushed into the ED and the first face I saw was Dr. Mark Thanassi, whose daughter is in our program. Talking with him somehow seemed easier than talking to the “Doctor.” I was talking to one of our parents who just happened to be a doctor. After my aunt passed away both Mark and his wife Wendy (who is also a doctor in the ED) came up to my office to talk with me and help me through my sorrow.

Recently, my husband was rushed to the ED because of a staph infection. Knowing how serious blood staph infections can be, I left work and sat in the ED crying and praying. Jody Platner, the director of the center, suddenly appeared and sat with me. We didn’t talk…we didn’t have to. She was part of my family and she was there with me. When the doctor came in to see my husband, he introduced himself as Dr. Nyce. Then he spotted my badge. His son Matthew is in our program. Suddenly my family was with me again. When I went home that evening, my voice mail was full. The messages were from my fellow staff members, my day care family.

One week after my husband was released from the hospital, he was involved in a very serious rollover car accident in which his car was totaled. He was taken by ambulance to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London. When I received the call from the hospital, the doctor said my husband was refusing treatment and insisted on being brought to Yale-New Haven. Some eight hours later, my husband was transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital, and we were back in the ED again. We had to wait another eight hours before my husband was admitted due to a lack of beds. At 2:00 am, while I was talking with the charge nurse, I mentioned that I worked at the Day Care Center. She asked me if I knew Dr. Wendy Thanassi, and when I said yes, she pointed me in her direction. When I saw her, we hugged and through my tears I told her about my husband’s accident. She walked with me to see him. She held his hand and talked with him. Once again, the presence of family put us both at ease. Dr. Basadonna saw me the next morning while he was making rounds. He had heard that my husband was in the hospital and wanted to know where he was. After his rounds he made a special visit to see him and talk to him.

My job at the Day Care Center has made me more understanding of the endless hours that the hospital doctors work. My job at the Day Care Center has enlarged my family to include the wonderful people at Yale-New Haven Hospital that have chosen to become doctors.

Thank you all.

Sandra Cacace
West Haven