September 15, 2000

MGH patient Patricia Percoco desperately wanted to take her 5-year-old son Ricky (pictured on left) to his first day of kindergarten last week. However, because she has been hospitalized for most of the last eight months, her chances were slim of participating in this momentous occasion in her young son's life. But thanks to the kindness and perseverance of her nurse and case manager, Percoco got to see Ricky off to school.

Percoco suffers from severe complications of gastric bypass surgery she had 10 years ago. She had spent several months at a community hospital earlier this year and was transferred to the MGH two months ago. Under the care of MGH thoracic surgeon, John Wain, MD, Percoco has undergone two surgeries to repair damage to her esophagus and intestines.

Without the surgeries, Percoco could have died. She now is nourished through intravenous tubes and requires constant care. Her caregiver team expects her to be in the hospital for at least another month.

Despite Percoco's condition, Julie Goddard, RN, and case manager Roberta Nemeskal worked together to arrange for a van specially equipped with a wheelchair lift to take Percoco to her home in Lowell the morning of Sept. 5, so that she could send Ricky off to school with a hug and a kiss.

"I missed seeing my stepson off to his first day at school because I had to work, and he lives in Maine," says Goddard. "I felt terrible about it. And then I thought about Patty and realized that she must be beside herself not being able to see Ricky off to school." So Goddard consulted with Nemeskal to see if it was possible for Percoco to go home for a few hours.

Nemeskal set to work making phone calls. She got a physician's order from Wain for Percoco's transfer. The Case Management Department paid for the chair lift car and driver from the American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance services. Because Percoco needed medical supervision for her day trip, Goddard came in on her day off to escort her. Ellen Kinnealey, RN, from Biomedical Engineering, arranged for a backup pump for Percoco's IV. From beginning to end, Percoco's three hours away from the hospital went smoothly. AMR even offered to take Ricky to school, so that Percoco could watch him walk into his class.

"I believe anything can be done here," says Nemeskal. "You just need to know who to call. I'm thrilled with how it all worked out."

Thrilled isn't a strong enough word to describe how Percoco felt when she was able to see her son walk into school. "It was so wonderful," says Percoco. "I don't know how they did it, but I'm just glad I got to see him off. I miss my whole family terribly."

According to Wain, Percoco's trip didn't hurt her condition, and it did a lot to help her morale. "Her trip home revitalized her after her long hospitalization and will make the remainder of her time here, which we hope will be short, much more tolerable," he says. "Great credit goes to Ms. Goddard and Ms. Nemeskal for making it happen."

And for Goddard who took photos of the joyous event, she won't forget the experience. "It was one of the best things I have done in my nursing career so far," she says. "I'm so glad it worked out."

From left:  Goddard, Percoco and Nemeskal