suggests Ryan Still to Barb Grisolini, a Community Memorial Hospital nurse, as she is about to start an intravenous line.

Ryan, the nine-year-old son of Jim and Heather Still of Madison, knows way too much about needles. He grimaces but doesn’t struggle as Grisolini kneels to follow his direction and complete the procedure. A quick pinch and the worst is over. Ryan settles back, with his video games, stuffed turtle and cartoons, for his biweekly plasma infusion.

Ryan has atypical HUS, a kidney disease that first revealed itself when he was only ten months old with flu-like symptoms followed by a complete shut down of his kidneys. He then went into remission but two and a half years later the disease returned and the Stills began making several trips a week to Syracuse for the plasma infusions that replace a protein Ryan is missing and slows down the attack on his kidneys.

The traveling, the waiting and the needles became a time-consuming and expensive way of life for the family. Until this year. As luck would have it, when Jim Still was admitted to Community Memorial for an ambulatory procedure, one of his nurses was Missy Bohnert, who had once waitressed with Heather. When she heard about the family’s ordeal she thought the hospital might be able to help and approached Nurse Manager Diane Chase, who was immediately enthusiastic.

With Heather Still’s consent, she began to investigate what could be done.

“It took a lot of legwork,” remembers Chase, who spoke with several physicians, who all agreed Community Memorial could provide the treatment. The staff then planned a pizza party to introduce themselves to Ryan, who had some apprehension at first about the change. Cheese, pepperoni and cheery caregivers eased his concerns.

“Diane Chase put together a combination of resources so we could accommodate Ryan and his family,” says Hospital President and CEO David W. Felton. “Her thoughtfulness and caring is wonderful.” “It has been so worth it,” says Chase. “It’s why we are here, to take care of people in our community.”

By mid-May Ryan had begun receiving his plasma infusions at Community Memorial with Barb Grisolini as his steady nurse. “There is an amazing difference,” says Heather. “It used to take four people to pin him down for the IV. I see that he’s happier too. Barb has been very welcoming and always has a special snack for Ryan and his younger sister Kayla. I feel relieved.”

“He is the sweetest boy,” says Grisolini, who considers herself lucky to be his nurse. “The mother in me comes out and Ryan is an easy little boy to take care of.”

“We try to design our services around the needs of our local population,” says Felton, who noted Ryan’s Red Sox allegiance and is shopping for a Boston-related gift. “It took some doing but I am so pleased we are able to treat this terrific youngster. Our nurses really care.”

Sponge Bob is cavorting on the TV screen above Ryan’s gurney when Barb Grisolini announces they have reached the halfway point of the infusion and that’s just fine. Home is just around the corner and everyone is feeling better.