Meet Baptist Legend Jalynn Danielak-Revels
While attending her daughter’s tennis practice, Jalynn Danielak-Revels noticed a young girl with a wire hanging from her body. Jalynn’s nursing curiosity kicked in and she inquired with the girl’s mom about the situation. The mom was overwhelmed, and Jaylnn learned that her two-year-old has a rare genetic condition where she is allergic to almost all food.
The girl had a gastrostomy tube, or G-tube, placed in her stomach. The mom explained how the process had been frightening for the girl. The girl spent a lot of time being hooked to machines to gain nutrition, leaving almost no play time. Jalynn had an idea to make a doll with a G-tube to make the experience more educational and less daunting. She reached out to Baptist’s representative with Boston Scientific, who was more than willing to help with supplying a real G-tube. Jalynn went shopping at several stores to find a doll that closely resembled the girl. She purchased a doll that looked realistic and was able to connect to the feeding tube. Jalynn set up the doll with a G-tube, even taking photos of the doll having a nutrition intake. Jalynn sent photos and explanations to the mom so the process could be recreated to educate her and her daughter.
The idea worked, easing the girl's fears about feeding and G-tubes. Now, the girl and her family have a much better quality of life. There have been no more outbursts during a feeding, and the girl is no longer scared or stuck for hours next to a machine. Jalynn went above and beyond and changed this girl and her family’s lives by taking extra time to put the Baptist Values into action. Jalynn has Ownership, Compassion, Excellence, and Service, and that’s why she’s a Legend.
