PHIL Award Winner
October 2014
Christy has been a respiratory therapist at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital since May 2012. She is
a graduate of Ferris State University. Her nomination letter below says it all as far as what
kind of care she provides and why she has earned the PHIL Award Honoree title! During the
award celebration, Dave Getty, Director of Respiratory Care, read a letter from a patient that
was so heartwarming! Our favorite line was, "We would look for the names on the board
when arriving for our shift and we were always excited when it was Christy. She cried with us
during the worst of times and also when there was a turn for the better." You know you are
giving exemplary care when your patients get excited when they know you are working. That
is really something special! This patient actually came back to the hospital to see Christy
after she was discharged to thank her for helping her to live another year. Wow!

When Christy is not providing exemplary care to her patients, she enjoys Michigan Football
and Tigers Baseball. She also enjoys traveling and playing softball.


Nomination Letter from a patient's family:
Our mom arrived at St. Josephs Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor on 11/11/2013.  She was initially in
the ER, then taken to a room on the 9th floor and then ultimately transferred to the 6th floor
MICU where she is at today.  She was having trouble breathing and in distress when she
arrived at the hospital and was eventually diagnosed with Legionnaires disease and
subsequently ARDS. Christy Eby was the Respiratory Therapist that cared for our mom on
many of her most difficult days.

Christy is very caring, compassionate and knowledgeable.  She always spoke to our mom
providing explanations of the care that she was providing though our mom was sedated to
the point that she could not respond.  She would take the time to not only explain to us what
was going on but also answer any questions that we had.  She insisted on not only
answering our questions but explained over and over to us that no question was silly or
could be asked too many times.  Christy would see us in the hallway and either say “I am on
my way down to see your mom” or “I was just in to see your mom, I will finish up and be right
down to answer any questions”.  No matter how many times a question was asked or that
the same question was asked by numerous people, Christy always responded with
patience and with an empathetic tone.  She also worked with the nurses in the same
manner… All this was done without an ounce of complaint nor a frustrated tone in her voice.  
We would look for the names on the board when arriving for our shift and we were always
excited when it was Christy.  She cried with us during the worst of times and also when there
was a turn for the better.

Our mom has had the best care possible by all of the nurses, doctors and respiratory
therapists, but Christy absolutely stood out as an exemplary care giver.   Words will never be
enough to express our gratitude and appreciation to the staff at St. Josephs for what they
have done for our mom and for us!

Christy, this letter exemplifies the spirit of The PHIL Award! We honor you and thank you!
Christy Eby, RRT
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
Christy Eby, RRT
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann
Arbor, MI
Dr. Christine Curran, MD., MIC Medical Director,
Pulmonary Critical Care, Dave Getty, Director of
Respiratory Care, Christy Eby, RRT, Sharman Lamka,
President/Founder of The FACES Foundation.
A proud Christy Eby, RRT between her very proud
managers, Dave Getty and Alicia Wafer.