Hello and welcome. My name is Danielle and I’ve been an RN for 9 years. I’ve been doing travel NICU nursing for the last 2 1/2 years. My last assignment ended in the end of March 2023. I can’t wait to get back, but for now it’s time for me to be the patient. This has been so hard for me and sharing everything has been equally as hard.

SO.... a little about me. I grew up in the Chicagoland area. I was diagnosed with lupus and Reynaud’s syndrome in the end of 2005. My senior year of high school and it did change my life. I still managed to graduate on the Dean’s list despite constant pain attacks and my fingers turning blue and being in pain and swollen. I pushed myself to finish my final year of Violin. I played for about 8 years but ultimately had to quit because of my diagnosis. In 2008, I gave birth to my son prematurely due to complications associated with lupus, and he passed away. The nurse that took care of me was such an inspiration and changed my life. I lost a second child in 2010. After grieving and getting myself together, I finally graduated nursing school in 2014! I initially started off in adult medicine but was always looking for an opportunity to get to my true passion, the babies. I scored my shot one day being floated to the mother/baby unit. This got me one step closer to my dream of the NICU. The Manager and staff really enjoyed me and I floated to the unit almost more than I worked in my home unit. Although I truly enjoyed my family and my job, Lupus, Reynaud’s and Chicago winters do not get along well. I was constantly swollen and in pain, but most people never even knew. I went to work and cared for my patients. I made the tough decision to move south and moved to Tennessee in December of 2016 and was promised a NICU position but was sent to Adult Hospice and Oncology. I was nominated for the daisy award 3 times that year. However, I was determined to make it to the NICU where I felt like I was meant to be. All I had been through with my own babies; I knew I had so much to offer to the sick babies and their families. One year later I landed at a huge teaching hospital in the Nursery. Like many nurses we learned to take more than just well babies and the unit often functioned more like a step-down NICU and I was so happy. While working at this big hospital I met a new rheumatologist, he decided to look deeper into my disease. It was then that I was told not only did I have the lupus and Reynaud’s, but I also showed features of Mixed Connective Tissue disease and Scleroderma. I refused to let any of these diagnoses slow me down and I continued my journey after that working as a contracted Civilian for the US ARMY. I worked NICU/nursery and also their mother baby unit for close to 3 years and through the height of the pandemic. I was ready for a change and decided it was time to travel and see the world. So obviously the best thing to do would be to combine two things I love, work and travel. And I’ve traveled working only NICU for the last 2 ½ years meeting amazing people along the way. However, this changed for me drastically at the end of last year.

In November of 2022, I became ill and went to the hospital. Initially it was thought I had pneumonia but upon further testing I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Artery Hypertension. Despite being sick, the first thing I kept asking my doctors was when can I return to work. I was released from the hospital and went back to taking care of the sick babies the next week. It wasn’t easy but I felt like this is what I was made for. I’m determined and a bit stubborn so I would continue to push myself like I always have. I was seeing doctors and having test run and starting medications on almost every day off I had. It was important to me to keep working.

In February, I had 10 days off in a row and I absolutely could not wait to enjoy some time home and was ready to relax before I finish out my contract. I was on this contract for 5 ½ months already and being sick and working was talking a toll on me but I loved taking care of my patients. After being home only a day, I was admitted to the hospital. I was in ICU for a couple days and then in the medical lung unit a few more days before being discharged. During that hospital stay it was determined I would need supplemental oxygen. In true fashion, I wanted to return to work to finish out my contract. I had about 5 weeks left and I was determined to do it. So, I wore the oxygen every moment except while at work for my 12-hour shifts. I took my oxygen off once I parked my car and would put it on immediately upon entering my car to go home. I finished my contract out and had planned to take some time off in hopes resting and trying new meds I would be able to get off oxygen and return to work. I Started an RN to MSN program because I know there is so much more I have to give to my patients and my career.

But as of May 8th, 2023, I am unable to get off oxygen and hope to work remotely and work on my degree as I prepare for the next stage which my team has determined is a lung transplant.

This will be a huge change for me in every aspect of life. So, I’ve created this campaign to help support myself through this process. The money donated will go toward medical bills, living expenses and insurance premiums to ensure I can continue my cobra health insurance. How long until I can get a lung transplant is unknown at this time as the process is just beginning. I invite you to follow me on TIK TOK (@thenursedanni) as I am going to post my journey to my new lungs there.