A Unique Bond in Pediatric Care
In the world of pediatric healthcare, personal experiences often shape the compassion and dedication of medical professionals. Nurse manager Jolyn Schneider and patient care technician Steven Hoff exemplify this connection at the Burn Treatment Center, where their past experiences as young patients themselves now guide their care for children like Brody.
Jolyn Schneider’s journey began in Luxemburg, a small town in northeast Iowa, where she spent much of her childhood in hospitals due to a rare skin condition known as pustular psoriasis. This condition, marked by large, painful blisters that resemble burns, required extended stays at UI Health Care and Mayo Clinic. During this time, hospital staff became a second family to her, leaving a lasting impression. Schneider recalls, “I knew then that I wanted to do that for somebody someday.” Her early interactions with nurses and doctors solidified her aspiration to pursue nursing, a dream she held since second grade.
In a separate incident in 1992, Steven Hoff’s life took a dramatic turn at just two years old. A tragic campfire accident near Iowa City left him with third-degree burns on his arms, neck, and face. Initially, the prognosis was grim, with doctors fearing he might not survive or lose his arms. However, through a series of surgeries, skin grafts, and extensive physical therapy at Iowa, Hoff regained the use of his arms and hands, despite losing the tips of two fingers.
Schneider’s early career intersected with Hoff’s story when she was observing burn specialists at UI Health Care the night of his emergency admission. Reflecting on the experience, she says, “I remember just watching all the teamwork and the people around this very little boy. I just remember thinking, ‘He has to be so scared, and he needs people to be with him.’”
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