June 2026 Honoree
Lupita Quintanilla, BSN, RN
There is a patient on Mercy 6 who is in his senior year of high school and has been here for quite some time. Since being admitted, he has missed out on the fun activities of senior year. He missed out on his Senior trip and sadly even his prom. The next special date coming up was graduation.
Nurses spoke about the patient missing out on these memorable events and how devastating it would be to also have to miss graduation. The patient asked his doctor multiple times if it was possible he could attend his graduation, only to be denied each time he asked.
One nurse talked with Case Management about the possibility of this patient attending his graduation. For two days, it took teamwork, persuasion, agreements from general surgery and the hospitalist, insurance approval, legal approval, and patience to make this patient’s request to attend his graduation a possibility. The patient was so happy to hear he would be able to walk the stage with his classmates and receive his diploma!
Due to the patient’s condition, one major requirement for him being allowed to attend his graduation was that he needed to be accompanied by a nurse throughout the entire ceremony and return to his hospital room afterward. Lupita volunteered to go with the patient so he could walk the stage with his classmates. She even worked with Hannah (Patient Experience) to help decorate his door and have a banner made for him to celebrate this momentous occasion.
To help make transportation easier, the driver of the Covenant wheelchair van volunteered to drive the patient and nurse to the ceremony. When it was the patient’s turn to receive his diploma, Lupita helped him to the stage, where his brother was waiting to accompany him across the stage to receive it. The patient was able to stay for the entire graduation and afterward took pictures with his family members.
High School graduation is a major stepping stone in a teenager’s life, and because of Lupita, this patient was able to be there. The patient will never forget this moment or the nurse and hospital staff that helped make it possible. The patient and his family were very thankful for allowing their son to be a part of this special occasion. This nurse truly went above and beyond for this patient.
Nurses spoke about the patient missing out on these memorable events and how devastating it would be to also have to miss graduation. The patient asked his doctor multiple times if it was possible he could attend his graduation, only to be denied each time he asked.
One nurse talked with Case Management about the possibility of this patient attending his graduation. For two days, it took teamwork, persuasion, agreements from general surgery and the hospitalist, insurance approval, legal approval, and patience to make this patient’s request to attend his graduation a possibility. The patient was so happy to hear he would be able to walk the stage with his classmates and receive his diploma!
Due to the patient’s condition, one major requirement for him being allowed to attend his graduation was that he needed to be accompanied by a nurse throughout the entire ceremony and return to his hospital room afterward. Lupita volunteered to go with the patient so he could walk the stage with his classmates. She even worked with Hannah (Patient Experience) to help decorate his door and have a banner made for him to celebrate this momentous occasion.
To help make transportation easier, the driver of the Covenant wheelchair van volunteered to drive the patient and nurse to the ceremony. When it was the patient’s turn to receive his diploma, Lupita helped him to the stage, where his brother was waiting to accompany him across the stage to receive it. The patient was able to stay for the entire graduation and afterward took pictures with his family members.
High School graduation is a major stepping stone in a teenager’s life, and because of Lupita, this patient was able to be there. The patient will never forget this moment or the nurse and hospital staff that helped make it possible. The patient and his family were very thankful for allowing their son to be a part of this special occasion. This nurse truly went above and beyond for this patient.
Thank you, Lupita, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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