Both Samantha and Jenyne Mae went above and beyond in their work at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), which compromises Addenbrooke's Hospital, and The Rosie.
CUH run the You Made a Difference awards to highlight the impact that its staff's care has had on patients and their families.
Cambridge University Hospitals have announced the November 2023 winners of the award.
They were Samantha Fennelly, a junior sister, and Jenyne Mae Alabata, a staff nurse.
Samantha Fennelly - Cambridge University Hospitals Junior Sister
Samantha is a junior sister on the paediatric intensive care unit at CUH, and has been providing nursing care to critically ill children in the unit since 2019.
She was nominated for the You Made a Difference award by a relative of a patient, who said that "If I could nominate more CUH staff at once, I would, but Sam was amazing, and I don't know what I would have done without her".
"My older son died of a genetic condition and was in hospital for a month. In that time our little baby boy suffered seizures, died multiple times and the whole thing was horrific.
“Sam sat with my older boy and played with him. She felt more a friend to me and supported me a lot. She also looked after our little boy amazingly and treated him like her own.
“At the end she looked after my older son, held me when I cried, lifted me if I fell.
"Sam took care of my older son so well even once he had passed, dressing and bathing him, talking to him, doing all the little memories she thought I would like once he had gone."
Samantha's CUH colleagues are "so proud" that her work has been recognised and has made such an impact on the relatives of patients.
Samantha is "very modest" about receiving the You Made a Difference award, as she believes she was "just doing her job".
Her colleagues in the paediatric intensive care unit have said that she is "kind and empathetic and a great support for the parents and families who are distressed and anxious because of their child's condition."
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Jenyne Mae Alabata - Cambridge University Hospitals Staff Nurse
Jenye Mae has been working at CUH since 2019 and currently works in the neuro department as a staff nurse.
She has also started her Critical Care Course with the University of East Anglia.
Her Cambridge University Hospitals colleagues described her as "an incredibly kind, caring and conscientious member of NCCU."
They said that Jenye Mae is "incredibly hardworking, supportive, an excellent team player and has developed into a fantastic critical care nurse."
Jenye Mae was also nominated for the You Made a Difference award by a patient's relative, who said:
"I spent the evening with Jenyne Mae on the first night of my dad’s admission to NCCU.
It was the worst, most frightening night of my life and Jenyne Mae got me through it with her kindness and care.
"Jenyne Mae ensured that my whole family was well looked after, comfortable and had something to eat and drink.
As a critical care nurse, she was very busy, but she went above and beyond and was frequently checking on us and being reassuring.
"Jenyne Mae was brilliant, a godsend and we were so glad to have had her as our nurse.
She was a ray of light at my darkest time and for that there are not enough thank yous. A born nurse – a real star."
Samantha and Jenyne Mae were presented with certificates, flowers and cake at an awards ceremony with their colleagues.
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