National Nurses Week is a celebration and recognition of the invaluable contributions nurses make to patient care. This is the seventh in a series of stories highlighting a few of the many exceptional nurses at Novant Health, as chosen by their peers for going above and beyond in caring for patients.
Registered nurse Jacquelyn Roberts understands that her patients are people with unique life stories. She treats every person as an individual, establishing authentic relationships with everyone around her. That’s why when she heard the love story of Elliott and Addie Hanscom, she planned a surprise anniversary party.
During World War II, Addie’s brother was a friend of Elliott. Tragically, her brother died in the war. Elliott walked 12 miles from Camp Lejeune to the farm where Addie lived so he could date her. They dated six weeks before he proposed. When she asked her mother for permission to marry, her mother told her, “You don’t know him. You don’t know his people.”
“But I do know him,” Addie replied. “I love him.” Her mother gave her blessing.
Fast forward 70 years. Roberts cares for Addie during her visits to Novant Health Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine in Charlotte, and she wanted to do something special for the couple on their 70th wedding anniversary, which fell on a day Addie had an appointment at the clinic. Roberts and her team worked together to throw a surprise anniversary party for the Hanscoms. She decorated the breakroom and provided a beautiful cake and snacks. Since the couple was married in a fire station at the end of WWII, Roberts adorned the table with fire helmets.
The Hanscoms were so surprised and thankful for Roberts and her team for remembering and celebrating such a milestone with them – a true testament to the remarkable, personalized care Jacquelyn delivers.
Elliott and Addie Hanscom