Published: May 17, 2024
Lansing, Mich. – In honor of National Hospital Week, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing recognized one of its team members with its Starfish Award for making a difference and serving as a reminder of the profound impact compassion and empathy can have on the healing process.
Leticia Bustillos, a support operations services tech assigned to University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Children’s Center, plays a vital role in the hospital – keeping a clean environment for our most vulnerable pediatric patients and their families while infusing each space with tenderness and care.
Leticia Bustillos, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing support operations services tech, poses with her Starfish Award.
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing leaders and team members celebrate Support Operations Services Tech Leticia Bustillos.
“Leticia cleans each room as if her grandchild was going to be placed there for admission,” the nomination said.
Bustillos also recently became close with a young patient who eagerly awaits her arrival to his room every day. With his miniature broom in hand, he becomes overcome with joy at the prospect of spending time with his "hospital friend."
“It’s nice to have someone who isn’t doing anything medical to him who he looks forward to coming in the room,” the patient’s mom said. “‘We love Leticia.”
UM Health-Sparrow’s Starfish Award celebrates team members who provide extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care every day. It’s based on a poem titled “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley – emphasizing that no act of kindness, regardless of how small it might seem, is ever wasted.
“I see the joy in her face as she talks about different interactions she has with patients and families—from playing peek a boo through the door with a toddler to roaring like a dinosaur when another patient grabs his dinosaur and roars at her,” said Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Manager Jennifer Komm.
To learn more about the compassionate and leading-edge care offered at UM Health-Sparrow, visit UofMHealthSparrow.org.
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University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia and St. Johns, as well as UM Health-Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Care Network, the Michigan Athletic Club, and AL!VE. UM Health-Sparrow is part of University of Michigan Health. Through the dedication of our 10,000 team members, UM Health-Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and patient experience. For more information, visit UofMHealthSparrow.org.