In early March 2020, Hani Atkins was preparing for her upcoming 18th birthday, including a trip to Disneyland with her family. Those plans, however, did not play out as expected. Not only did the theme park temporarily close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but on April 22, Hani was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) – for the second time.
She had been in remission for just over two years and had been thriving, enjoying life as a stellar junior at Apple Valley High School. She was taking college courses in addition to her high school courses, and looking forward to her senior year.
One of the rites of passage for all seniors is their portrait day. When school administrators heard about her diagnosis, they rescheduled her senior portraits to be taken as soon as possible. Unfortunately, just days before her photo session, Hani was admitted to Kaiser Permanente’s Fontana Medical Center.
Hani had been a patient at the Fontana Medical Center during her previous battle with ALL. She even had the same nurses! They remembered her well. “She is one of a kind!” said Ebonee Givens, RN. “She thinks about others before she thinks about herself.”
When Hani’s nursing team saw that she was back in the hospital, and heard that her senior portraits had been postponed, they moved swiftly. The call went out, and before the effects of Hani’s treatment could set in, her nursing team had organized a photo session in a conference room in the hospital, complete with a glam squad.
“Because of the strict visitor policy during COVID-19, we couldn’t bring people in to help,” explained Ebonee. “My manager sent out group message, and the response from the pediatrics nurses was amazing. One person did hair, another did make-up, others brought clothes, accessories, and photography equipment. We had a full-on salon!”
Hani’s step-mom, Pam, attests, “All I had to do was bring a curling iron! They brought everything else, from the dresses, to the camera, to the studio props. It was a princess day!”
Says Ebonee, “We treat these kids like they’re our family. It’s part of being a pediatric oncology nurse. We’re always thinking about what we can do to make things special,” particularly for kids who are in the hospital for a long time. Hani was getting treatment, antibiotics, and needed rest during the long day, but she never wavered.
“It was awesome!” she exclaimed in appreciation, with a grin on her face. Of the nursing team, Pam says, “They care for their patients in the most loving and selfless way. The fact that they do everything they 
can for these kids…I’m just floored.” As 2020 is the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife,” this is just one of Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s year-long series of stories which showcase nurses’ huge, compassionate hearts and extraordinary care.
Hani has plans to join the rest of her senior classmates at Apple Valley High School in the fall. Watching her blossom has been special for Hani’s nurses too. As Ebonee recalls. “She’s always had this sweet spirit, but now, as a strong young woman, she has a maturity as well.”
True beauty runs deep in this story.
