Testimonial - "The Best Experience I've Ever Had"

My name is Victoria Byrne, and I'm from Brookings. I have been here for five, six years now, and I love it. It's a small, Mayberry town.

What Recent Surgeries Have You Had at Brookings Health System?

I had a total hip replacement, which is usually a very hard one on people, and I don't remember any of the pain. They did such a good job. It was the best experience I've ever had. The doctors, the nurses . . . it totally surprised me, because I'm used to small towns not being as efficient as your large towns, and I found out that this was completely opposite. They were more like your brothers and sisters versus being a number.

How Was Your MRI Experience at Brookings Health System Different?

They were thinking, "How would they feel the best on the table?" And instead of, "This is policy, let's do this", they were so good at propping me in the right way that the pain on my lower back was not there. So it was the first MRI I've been able to go clear through with, because of their thoughtfulness in how to do it.

What Do You Appreciate Most About The Brookings Health System Staff?

They made it seem like, "You're just at home in bed and we're here to make you comfortable". It wasn't a cold, calculated hospital where you feel like, "I'm here alone in the world." That wasn't the case, and I'm very bad at pain. My pain level, I was born with a zero, so you know that I'm gonna have to be calling them poor nurses. It made me wanna cry, because I could see out my door, they were on a dead run. It was so busy when I was there, but they still had time for every one of us, so I really loved that.

Were There Any Specific Staff  Members That Made Your Experience Special?

I have Carla that comes in. I could not have gotten on the BATA bus, because the pain that I have, and she does all the exercises, shows me. She can see when I'm hurting, and I hate to say that she pushes you, but to the right degree. I'm glad that I can raise my arms up, where some of my friends can't.

Would You Recommend Brookings Health System?

I would recommend Brookings Hospital because it was the best experience I've ever had in a hospital. With my health, I've had many, many, many surgeries, with my bone disease. This is the first hospital I've ever had where I felt like they were a part of my family, and they wanted me to be well. Not that everyone doesn't want you to be well, but they, they took it a step further than just being professional. They were . . . they thought of me as if it was their mommy or their sister lying in bed, and that's how I felt like I was cared for.