Connect

Learn how small gestures are making a big impact.

This is the latest installment in our Connect article series “Hope at Work” — showcasing inspiring stories about how our team members contribute to UVA Health’s 10-year strategic plan: “One Future Together Health and Hope for All.” No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to inspire hope in others. These stories show how:

At UVA Health University Medical Center’s 5 Central, the gastrointestinal unit is typically a place where dedicated team members care for patients who are being treated for colorectal cancer, recovering from gut-related surgeries, managing ostomies, or awaiting transplants. 

But amid the daily challenges of patient care, Dianne Moody, MSN, RN, and her colleagues have found a way to bring a touch of joy to the unit's youngest visitors.

Light Bulb Moment

Dianne, who has been a nurse at UVA Health for seven years, recalls a moment last spring that sparked an idea. While caring for a patient who had been in the hospital for about a week, she noticed something unusual on his overbed table — a small stash of food. As a nurse, Dianne knew the importance of removing any food items from the room to prevent temptation, especially since this patient wasn’t allowed to eat yet.

When Dianne gently asked about removing the food, the patient shared that he was saving the snacks for his grandson, who was coming to visit. The man was worried that his grandson might be scared seeing his grandpa in the hospital, and he wanted to have something special to give him.

Warm Welcome

Touched by the patient’s thoughtfulness, Dianne decided to do more than just allow the snacks to remain. She gathered additional treats — popsicles, apple juice, and a few other items — so the grandfather could give his grandson a warm welcome.

The memory of the encounter stayed with Dianne. It wasn’t the first time she had seen a patient thinking of their family, especially their young visitors. “Wouldn’t it be cool,” she thought, “if we had a treasure box where we could store items for school-agedvisitors who come to our floor to visit their family members?”

Share the Love

The idea quickly grew. Dianne discussed it with her manager, who fully supported the initiative. Soon, a “Share the Love” drive was organized, inviting team members to donate items to stock a treasure chest. The response from the staff was overwhelming. 

“We gathered tons of stuff: Slinkies®, Matchbox® cars, stickers, Silly Putty® — all kinds of cool things,” Dianne recalled. One of the unit’s traveling nurses — a woodworking enthusiast — even volunteered to build the treasure chest out of reclaimed wood, adding a personal and heartfelt touch to the project.

Creativity and Compassion

Now, when a child comes to visit a family member, a nurse will either accompany them to the chest or bring it to them, allowing the child to pick out a special item. The small gesture has made a big impact, not only on the visitors, but on the staff as well. 

“If staff are having a bad day, they take joy in seeing the child have a great time picking something. It lightens our day,” Dianne shared. “It also makes it fun for the patient to be able to walk with their visitor to the treasure chest and pick something.”

Thanks to Dianne’s creativity and compassion, and the team on 5C working together, what began as a simple idea has turned into a cherished tradition on 5 Central — a treasure chest full of love, bringing light to what can often be a challenging time for patients and their families.