“Fifty-Two Weeks of Inspiration”
I started this project not only for myself creatively, but for the women in our community! These next 52 weeks you will meet women that are an inspiration to our community, who go above and beyond for their families or our small town, who may own their own business, or are just an inspiration to those who love them. Each woman has their own story, their own calling, their own struggles, and their own accomplishments. I couldn’t have said it better “I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say because of you I didn’t give up.”-unknown
{Week Three of Fifty-Two Weeks}
“Why fit in when you’re born to stand out!”
This week I got to spend some time with this amazing lady. You may know this fabulous women whether she is your friend, co-worker, or she may even be the nurse that helped deliver that new bundle of joy. She is amazing at what she does. Now I have known this lady for some time now and what I have learned from her is she will give whatever she sets her mind to 100%. From being a single mother to a special little girl, to going to school for not one degree but two, going to work and loves her job, to being someone you can count on if you need any help at all. My third weeks challenge is with Dani Geer, an OB nurse for Memorial Hospital of Converse County (MHCC).
Now some of you may know her, but some of you may not know this wasn’t her first career choice. Dani went to college her first go around to become a wildlife biologist. Crazy ha! I didn’t even know this. She went to school for 5 years to become a wildlife biologist and worked in Pinedale as a biologist for 3 years. She says “It sounds odd but it was very hard to find a full time job in wildlife. So the next best thing is helping people and well the pay is way better, emotionally and financially. After I had Kiele I knew labor and delivery is where I wanted to be”. She then decided to turn to healthcare and started going to nursing school while being a single mother. “I enjoy taking care of people. There is something so rewarding about being a nurse.” Dani says. Dani amazes me, she always has. Being a mother is hard; being a single mother without the help from their father is even harder! Dani did it on her own with a lot of dedication, hard work, tears some sad and some happy, and help from friends. She was in nursing school for 2 years and during that time Kim Crumly her close friend and Dani went to clinical opposite of each other so Kim could help with Kiele. Dani has been working for the MHCC for five and a half years. Five of which have been in labor and delivery. They work 12 hour shifts, but can be longer if they are slammed. She is very dedicated to her job and to her daughter. But this coming June she will be adding to her family, no babies yet anyways but she is getting married to Brian and adding two daughters! I am so excited for them! She has found her soul mate and he has accepted her daughter as his own. Now that is something to be excited about!!!!
Now if you have had a baby here in Douglas, or even had to be taken care of at our local hospital you will find the nurses here are all amazing. I know from my experiences, the nurses here go above and beyond. I have never walked away feeling I wasn’t taken care of.
Here is a quote I found that holds true for those who dedicate their lives to the medical field. “When a person decides to become a nurse, they make the most important decision of their lives. They choose to dedicate themselves to the care of others”.
Nurses are usually the first person you see when you walk through any of the doors here at MHCC. They are with you before you see any Dr. to get all your information, vitals, and examine you to give the Dr. the best information prior to your visit/surgery. I asked Dani what she would describe being a nurse means to her “compassion, dedication, so much emotion, having highs and lows but being able to hide those lows, dealing with patients and being your best. There is so much that goes into this job, some you will see, but most is behind closed doors.” MHCC delivered 177 babies in 2015, which is a lot of babies! Dani said she couldn't count the numbers of babies she has helped deliver, but says A LOT! If you have ever had a baby you know the nurse is in your room more than the doctor and I am not saying that as a bad thing. But sometimes the nurse has to deliver a baby, and Dani says she had one of those babies. “The Dr. had stepped out and to our surprise it was time and in that moment you are there.” She has also been a part of 5 deliveries with twins.
We had some visitors come see us just for this project as there were no babies in the nursery on the day I did the interview. Would have loved to see her in real action, but these two sweet twins came to visit and help us get Dani in action! They were not born in Douglas but their mom, Manda Keeler had also been an OB nurse for the hospital after nursing school. So we asked her to bring her brand new babies to see us. Amelia James and Katie Mary Smylie were born January 8, 2016 at PSL in Denver Colorado. The nurses here in the labor and delivery were happy Manda went to Denver to have her babies. “This way she had the experience she wanted, and with the twins it was just the best decision for her and her family. We are truly happy for her!” says Beckie Oliver, RN and manager of the labor and delivery. As we stood in the hospitals nursery 3 out of the 5 of us had twins, Becky Oliver, I, and Manda Smylie. Now that is pretty cool!
Katie, Dani, and Amelia
Manda Smylie with her newest bundles, Amelia and Katie. Thank you again for sharing them with us for this project!
Getting to know Dani…..
What is your greatest accomplishment…..My daughter and finishing nursing school! She has brought me so much joy, so much love and made me a better person. I finished school for her, because of her, and for myself.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career…..Patience!
What was your biggest struggle…..Finishing school as a single mom it would have been so easy to give up, but I kept going.
What do you love most about your job…..Bringing new life into the world!
What is your greatest fear…..Failure as a parent.
What is something on your bucket list…..Travel the world!
What is your favorite quote…..“Why fit in when you’re born to stand out.”
One word to describe “Dani” and why she inspires you…..
"Real"! Dani is a hard working dedicated OB nurse. She not only dedicated to her patients, but her peers and to me. She's a single mother who put herself through college and received 2 degrees! She never uses excuses for anything. She just makes it work. She volunteers frequently for extra shifts to make sure our schedule is covered. Safe, quality patient care is very important to her and she is not afraid to advocate for her patients. She strives for excellence in every aspect of nursing and patient care.” –Beckie Oliver (also pictured above with Dani)
“Compassionate! Dani was a very giving and caring person through my pregnancies but especially my twins! She never let my worry consume me, always reassured me, and knew what was best for me! I will never be able to put into words what her support meant to me during that time! She is an outstanding nurse and beautiful person!” –Ashley Hinckley
“Wholesome! Dani is the true definition of a warm hearted person. She is forgiving, generous, kindly and readily sympathetic. It is not just what she does daily but instead it is who she is.” –Manda Smylie
“Amazing! My mom inspires me so much because she loves me so much! My mom is the best mommy she could ever have and am so glad that she was chosen to be her mommy.” –Daughter Kiele
“Compassionate! She helped deliver both my girls...both emergency C-sections last minute. I remember with Carsyn I was so glad to see her face walk through that door! She is an amazingly talented nurse and we were lucky to have her twice!” –Rebecca Moser
“Amazing! She's the kindest hearted, selfless person I've ever met. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body and always makes sure the family is taken care of ahead of her own needs. An amazing mother!” -Brian Harmeyer (fiancé)
“It so hard to describe just one word ...I have an entire list, she's absolutely amazing and inspiring in everything that she does....but if I have to narrow it down I would describe her as DETERMIND!! She is so inspiring in the life she has created for her and Kiele! She has become successful in both her professional and personal life! She is an absolute true blessing! She is my inspiration....she wants the best thing for all of her patients and I believe that she makes a difference in every one of their lives! She is well loved by everyone that she has cared for and absolutely loves doing what she does! I am truly blessed to call her my friend and colleague!!! –Kim Crumly
“Compassionate!” –Kurt Engle
“True! Dani is a true person. She loves what she has in her life, both family and career. The last few years I have become closer with this beautiful “True” woman.” –Beth Pirnie
“Fighter! She has inspired me to get past my fears in order to move forward with my nursing career. She did it all on her own with a tiny baby along for the ride. It wasn't easy for her, I saw how she persevered and now she's thriving not only as a nurse but as a mom and a soon to be wife. She has fought for everything she has and that's why I'm proud to call her friend.” –Shannon Brown
Thank you for letting me question you, follow you around while you were hard at work, and to be able to capture your true love for your job. You are my inspiration!
