Dedication wins nurse coveted recognition

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 7/16/15

Jayne Lindo, a nurse for BAYADA Home Healthcare, was caught completely by surprise when the directors of the local affiliate visited her Monday afternoon announcing that she had won the BAYADA Home …

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Dedication wins nurse coveted recognition

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Jayne Lindo, a nurse for BAYADA Home Healthcare, was caught completely by surprise when the directors of the local affiliate visited her Monday afternoon announcing that she had won the BAYADA Home Healthcare National Hero Award for the 2015 second quarter.

BAYADA, which has over 280 offices in 22 states and a team of 18,000 nationwide, awards the National Hero Award to four individuals annually.

She was visited at the Elaine Arts’ home in Warwick, where she has cared for Dwight, a 21-year-old who has Leigh syndrome, for 15 years.

Leigh Syndrome is a neurometabolic disorder through which food cannot be properly processed for energy, which has left Dwight non-verbal, in a wheelchair and need of 24/7 care. Lindo visits the Arts’ home three or more days a week to help Elaine, Dwight’s mother, care for him.

When Lindo was up for nomination, BAYADA contacted Elaine for a letter of recommendation and she said that she couldn’t be happier Lindo would be getting the recognition she deserves. She was so excited for her friend, but kept the award a secret to surprise Lindo.

“When you have a child that is very sick you won’t leave them with just anyone,” Elaine said. “It needs to be someone you trust wholly, and I never worry when he is with Jayne.”

Although they both said that Lindo has been professional throughout her time with the Arts, they agreed that over the years they really have become family.

“I love Dwight to pieces, the whole family I love them,” Lindo said. “It’s hard not to feel like family.”

Ashley Sadlier, the director of BAYADA, said that Lindo is reliable and that they don’t have too many nurses stay with a family for as long as she has been with the Arts. She is a great example of a BAYADA employee because not only does she give exceptional care for her specific client but she really cares for the whole family.

“We want to clone her,” she said. “We want all our clients to have a Jayne in their home.”

Arts said that when you have someone “basically living” with you they are going to see more than the average person would.

Lindo has kept her professionalism, but she has also been there for Elaine and Dwight during difficult times.

Because of his Leigh syndrome, even a common cold can be life-threatening for Dwight. Lindo has been a resource for Arts so Dwight can remain at home despite illness, comfortable, taken care of, and without fear of catching something else in the hospital.

“Then there’s someone else in your home they see the good and they are there for the bad, but for the past 15 years Jayne has allowed me to feel safe and secure when it comes to my son,” Arts said.

Lindo accompanies Arts to Dwight’s doctors’ appointments, prepared with a notebook with a complete medical history, helping the two maneuver the medical system.

“In the office she can speak their language. She’s crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s,” Elaine said. “She knows every medicine and every heartbeat. Jayne’s my rock.”

Whenever she had to be out of town or miss a few days of work, Lindo trained other nurses personally for Dwight’s care and is the “meter for care.”

Meeting with the family first on March 1, 2000, when Dwight “was just a little pumpkin,” Lindo said, “I’ve watched him go through struggles and overcome them. He’s an adult now.”

Lindo also believes that the Arts have been just as influential on her life than she has been for them.

She said, “Elaine has taught me so much patience and how to appreciate the small things.”

Often when she is in a bad mood or has had a difficult day she looks forward to a “dose of Dwight” to cheer her up.

Receiving the award was both “overwhelming and humbling” for Lindo, who said that working with the Arts has been the most “fabulous and rewarding” time of her life.

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