Maeve Lee
Maeve Lee, BSN, RN, of Braunwald Tower 15BCD, has always wanted to be a nurse. Although she didn’t know it at the time, her path to the profession began more than 20 years ago when she experienced some of the same challenges as the patients she cares for today at the Brigham.
As a child, Lee was diagnosed by a team at Boston Children’s Hospital with a rare condition called laryngeal cleft, which can cause food and liquid to enter the lungs, leading to eating and breathing problems. Prior to undergoing surgery to address the problem, physicians had placed a gastronomy tube (G-tube) that delivered food directly into her stomach.
Today, as a nurse, she cares for many patients with feeding tubes on the surgical unit she works on at BWH.
“Going from a patient to a nurse has been helpful because I understand both perspectives,” said Lee, who graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2022 with her BSN. “I especially love working with patients with G-tubes.”
She’s able to connect with patients by sharing her own story. “Having a G-tube is a huge lifestyle and health change, and I often tell patients that I had one, too,” she said. “It sometimes makes them feel more comfortable and ‘normal’ if they meet someone who has experienced the same thing.”
While adjusting to a G-tube can be challenging, Lee wants to make sure those with feeding tubes can understand and appreciate their importance. “Remember that this is a life-saving medical device, and although it requires a lifestyle change, it is keeping you healthy and alive,” she said. “Saving your life is more important than what anyone thinks or may say. I have learned to appreciate my scar since it saved my life.”
Lee, who joined the Brigham in 2022, said she loves working on Tower 15BCD. “I love working on a surgical unit, and I do encounter lots of feeding tubes, which hold a special place in my heart,” she said. “I also have the best coworkers, who make coming to work easy!”