Being confined in a hospital is hard. And when you’re a pediatric patient, the challenges double.
Even parents find it hard to cope with seeing their kids suffering.
Quanda Riles is one of those people who make the lives of pediatric patients in the hospital easier.
An environmental services technician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, Quanda has seen a lot of sick kids.
She knows that spending a lot of time confined at the hospital must be scary so she tries to make kids forget they’re in the hospital.
Her actions may be small, but for the tons of children she sees every day, they’re everything.
Blake Sheffer was brought to the hospital just 5 weeks old.
A preemie, he was diagnosed with a blood disorder and supraventricular tachycardia.
He had been in and out of the hospital. In fact, he’s been admitted five times even before he turned one year old.
Staying at the hospital can be scary.
Fortunately, Blake got an excellent team to make him feel better. One of them was Quanda.
The two developed a special bond.
In fact, Blake’s parents had to open the door a couple of times because their son would always look for the lady. And after seeing her, he would light up.
Quanda knew how to make Blake’s day so much better.
The pair would have dance parties every day. It’s something the kid looked forward to each time he sees her.
With Covid-19 restrictions, Blake felt a bit sad and lonely.
A social baby, the limited visitors made him feel depressed. Fortunately, there was Quanda to cheer him up.
When Blake was readmitted, the family learned something about Quanda.
“Quanda has several debilitating health issues including a severe form of glaucoma where she is expected to be completely blind in the near future.”
Despite her condition, she continues to be a source of happiness for the kids at the hospital.
Quanda is just so happy and cheerful.
At first glance, no one would believe she’s going through health issues.
In the same interview, she said:
“My favorite part of working for Children’s is making the patients feel happy and comfortable because you don’t know what a family is going through. I always try to keep a smile on their faces.”
The internet has nothing but good things to say about her.
“A technician that actually loves being a technician who goes above and beyond—she clearly understood the assignment. All the bad things happening in the world she is a beacon of light!! Thanks to all the people that go above and beyond with kindness! ️”