Eileen’s story
A bright spirit
It’s people like Eileen Rebella who make the Medical Progressive Care Unit not just a team, but a family.
Eileen has been a housekeeper at CentraCare for close to ten years. Her colleagues describe her as a bright spirit, down to earth and full of gratitude. You can often hear her laughing down the hall as she chats up nurses and patients alike, spreading cheer wherever she goes. She’ll give the nurses back rubs all the while insisting it’s for her, not them; it helps loosen up her arthritic hands.
Many underestimate the importance of housekeepers in a hospital – we can’t keep people safe if the environment’s not clean.
Jen Smekofske, RN, MPCU
“People don’t realize just how much housekeepers do,” said MPCU RN Jen Smekofske. “Many underestimate the importance of housekeepers in a hospital – we can’t keep people safe if the environment’s not clean. We are a team and they are right in there with us.”
Eileen prides herself on helping others, but it was her team who was there for her when she needed it most. Watch and listen to her story below:
Eileen is a wonderful person. She is kind, hardworking, cheerful, friendly, and welcoming. She is always there to help someone. Because of her cheerfulness, she is a little baby for me. Whenever I see her, I smile just like I would for my baby. If I need help cleaning rooms, I go to her even if she is in her break and ask her for help and there she is following me to the room. The days she is off, I do the rooms on my own which takes more time than when I have Eileen with me.
Thank You Eileen for everything.
Eileen, I admire you so much. You did not sign up to be in the hospital at such a time yet you are still here, indefatigable and extraordinary. Everything you do is an amazing service to others. Thank you.