You may be aware of the Masonic Mission Awards, which were developed by Minnesota Masonic Charities as a way to honor staff members of the Masonic Children’s Hospital at University of Minnesota. Much as our “Champions of Care” program at Minnesota Masonic Home, the Masonic Mission Awards recognize the exemplary care provided by those who every day endeavor to improve the quality of life of their patients and families.

This quarter, nurse Dani Wiklund was nominated by the Steger family to receive the Masonic Mission Award. Chad and Jenna Steger lost their baby, Viona, to a chromosomal abnormality called Trisomy 18, but not until they brought Viona to Masonic Children’s Hospital.

“We had been to four, maybe five hospitals by that time,” said Chad, “but Masonic was by far the best. The compassion, the care is just amazing there.”

Dani supported the small family, including 3-year-old sister to Viona, Liivi, as they were given their infant’s diagnosis, and through their difficult stay at the hospital.

Said Chad, “From the small things like reassuring words to the bigger things like answering our questions about every test, poke, prod, and wire that we were watching happen to our little girl, Dani did it all with a smile and humble presence that made it all ok.” 

It takes what we like to call “earth angels” to ease the burden of a young family’s heartbreak. Thank you, Ms. Wicklund, for your amazing care.