Creating a special moment to connect with a patient

Late one evening, a child and his parents entered the emergency department at UCHealth Memorial Hospital North. With a right arm injury, the child was sent to the super track room overseen by Jodi Mann, a paramedic at UCHealth Memorial Hospital North.

Mann took note of the child, who appeared timid and shy during initial intake. With a buckle fracture to his right arm, he was clutching a toy plush with his left arm. The toy, an adorable figure with green skin, big ears and large eyes, stood 8 inches tall. It was Din Grogu, colloquially referred to as Baby Yoda, a character figure from Star Wars The Mandalorian.

Mann immediately thought of her colleague, Jessica Hammer, an emergency department nurse who loves Baby Yoda. Mann knew she had to connect the two.

Hammer showed off her hospital badge and clip, both adorned with Baby Yoda stickers. The patient and nurse bonded over their mutual obsession.

Once the child was ready for discharge, Mann and Hammer had an idea to take their connection a step further and create a special moment with the patient and his family.

Located in the emergency department’s break room is a remote control Baby Yoda and Hover Pram. Purchased by Hammer and another colleague, Jillian Martin, the Baby Yoda sits in a pod, donning a homemade nurse hat and hair net. When the time is right, they drive Baby Yoda around to have some fun, laugh together and build comradery. It’s a morale booster for the team.

Mann and Hammer thought the child would appreciate seeing the remote control Baby Yoda in action. They carefully affixed the patient’s discharge paperwork to the Baby Yoda remote car. Hammer took control of the remote and when the time was right, proceeded to drive it to the family at the checkout window.

Hammer steered Baby Yoda to the family with precision, while showcasing its full capacity by doing wheelies, spins and 360’s.

“He lit up like a Christmas tree,” said Mann. “It was super cool.”

The parents were thankful for the connection Mann and Hammer made with their son.

Mann and Hammer loved connecting with the patient, it was a good feeling, a bright spot in their day.

“[The emergency department] is often filled with anxiety, fear, stress. For even just a few minutes, to just have a little bit of fun and take a break from that. To see the smile on his face and everyone else’s too, it was super cool,” said Hammer.

Both Mann and Hammer say that moment was one they will never forget.

“It was just as much fun for us, as it was for him,” said Hammer.

“It’s fun making a difference in that way,” said Mann. “Yes, we do save lives, but this is a totally different type of helping somebody.”