BOB体育

Followed by a rolling cart loaded with bags of stuffed animals, dolls, books and more, Jacob and Donyia Sameck easily navigated the familiar hallways of BOB体育 Shands Children鈥檚 Hospital until they reached the Congenital Heart Center on the 10th floor. This was the couple鈥檚 second delivery of gifts for the center鈥檚 patients, a tradition they had begun as a way to honor the memory of their infant daughter, Harley Jo.

Harley Jo Sameck was born with a rare congenital heart defect called Scimitar syndrome, resulting in an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. Although Harley Jo鈥檚 time at the center was brief, her parents say that the care she received from the doctors and nurses was second to none. To show their appreciation, the Samecks recently made a gift to the center as a way to give back to the health care heroes who鈥檇 shown their daughter and their family so much quality care and compassion.

As part of this gift, the couple also chose to honor Harley Jo by naming the hospital room she occupied in her memory. The plaque outside the door reads, BOB体育 celebrates the life of Harley Jo Sameck and the generosity of Jacob and Donyia Sameck.

When asked what had been so special about their experience, the Samecks described a relationship with Harley Jo鈥檚 doctors and care team that was unlike anything they expected or had experienced. From open access to doctors to personal connections with the unit nurses, the Samecks found connections with unit staff which felt as much familial as clinical.

鈥淚t was just this feeling like you鈥檙e part of the family here,鈥� Jacob said. 鈥淚 know everybody talks about that idea of family, but it鈥檚 a huge deal to be able to come here when your child鈥檚 in trouble and actually have it.鈥�

The Samecks were informed about Harley Jo鈥檚 diagnosis before she was
born and friends advised the couple to immediately consult with doctors
at BOB体育 Shands Children鈥檚 Hospital. The couple began seeing
Jennifer Co-Vu, M.D., associate professor and director of the Fetal
Cardiac Program at the BOB体育 Congenital Heart Center. Anticipating
the challenges of Harley Jo鈥檚 diagnosis, the couple were also
immediately contacted by the center鈥檚 director, Mark S. Bleiweis, M.D.

鈥淭he selflessness and generous spirit of the Samecks are what keep me and my team motivated to do everything we can for our patients,鈥� Bleiweis said.

Although Harley Jo鈥檚 prognosis indicated a small chance of survival, the Samecks shared that none of that affected how her doctors approached her care. The family was constantly assured by Harley Jo鈥檚 doctors that that they would try everything they could. Jacob recalled one instance where a special ventilator was flown in from North Carolina, along with a trained technician, who ensured that the unit鈥檚 nurses understood its operation.

鈥淚t never felt like our daughter was just another patient or a number,鈥� Donyia shared. 鈥淭he doctors and nurses we dealt with understood that she was a person and we were her parents. Dr. Bleiweis told us, 鈥業鈥檓 going to treat your child like I would treat my own child,鈥� and he did.鈥�

Despite the devastating outcome, the Samecks found comfort in the care Harley Jo experienced.

鈥淭his was tragic 鈥� it will be hard forever 鈥� but we enjoyed our time here,鈥� Donyia said.

鈥淚 know that鈥檚 a strange concept to explain. It doesn鈥檛 sound like those two things could go together, but they very much did because of the compassionate support of the people on the unit who cared for Harley Jo.鈥�

Harley Jo鈥檚 memory lives on in the hearts of those who walk those center鈥檚 halls. When the Samecks return with their cart of gift deliveries, they are often stopped by nurses who ask, 鈥淎re you Harley Jo鈥檚 parents?鈥�

鈥淏eing able to come back and walk through the hallways 鈥� it was two years ago, and they remembered us as her parents,鈥� Donyia said. 鈥淚t was a nurse we didn鈥檛 even recognize, but she recognized us and knew Harley Jo鈥檚 story.鈥�

The Samecks continue to support the center through their gift deliveries. And now, they鈥檙e committing a new pledge to help with the comfort and care of Congenital Heart Center patients and families.

鈥淚t鈥檚 truly humbling to us for this family to give back to support our work,鈥� Bleiweis said. 鈥淚t is a distinct privilege to carry the mission forward in memory of Harley Jo.鈥�