These couples followed their heart to Riley. Now they work together as nurses on the night shift.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Love is all around at Riley Hospital for Children, but what better place to showcase it than the Heart Center, and what better day than Valentine’s Day?
Samantha Franczak and Bret Brumfield, who are getting married in September, both work as registered nurses on the unit, as do Jake and Maddie Schrader, who met in middle school and have been married for a year and a half.
The four all work the night shift, sometimes in neighboring patient rooms and sometimes at opposite ends of the unit. They all have a heart for heart patients.
“We have patients from a day old to 40 years old sometimes,” Brumfield said. “That’s pretty unique.”
“A lot of these kids need multiple surgeries, so we get to see them at different stages of life,” added Franczak.
The patient population and the team captured her heart when she rotated through the Heart Center during clinicals in nursing school. Brumfield had a similar clinical experience, but the bonus was that Franczak was already working there.
The Schraders, who are expecting their first child in June, say working together is ideal because each understands what the other is going through, especially on hard days.
“It makes decompressing a lot easier,” said Maddie, who loves making connections with patients and families.
“A lot of our kids are waiting for heart transplants, so we get to know them because they’re here for a long time.”
As she talked, Ja’Karr Ashley came up to say hello. Ja’Karr has been on the unit for several months waiting for a transplant. He has wiggled his way into the hearts of the entire team with his winning smile and friendliness.
“He’s a lot of fun,” Maddie said, while Jake quizzed the 12-year-old about his skill at video games.
“I worked as a patient care tech on this floor, and I loved all the staff and the patients,” Jake said, explaining why he chose to join the Heart Center team as a nurse. “It’s like a family.”
Both couples happen to have Valentine’s Day off, but they don’t have big plans.
“We’ll probably go to one of our favorite restaurants and spend the rest of the night at home with our dog,” Brumfield said.
The Schraders say they’ll likely do a date night at home, then go out for dinner when it’s not as busy.