Kansas City,
07
June
2018
|
08:22 AM
America/Chicago

Children's Mercy 'Dynamic Duo' Retires, but Legacy Lives On

"Unity is strength … when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved,” poet Mattie Stepanek once said. He published six poetry books (all New York Times Bestsellers) before passing away from a rare neuromuscular disease at the age of 13.

Mattie’s words perfectly exemplify the bond between Dr. Patrick Murphy and Jeri Sidden, RN, BSN, CNOR. This dynamic duo worked together, side-by-side, for 30 years in the Operating Room (OR) at Children’s Mercy.

Dr. Murphy, and his wife Jane, have endowed the Jeri Sidden Nursing Scholarship. It will first be awarded next year to a nurse in the OR.

“I was choked up when I found out,” Jeri said. “It makes me feel good that he appreciated and supported me, and nursing in general. We worked so well together because we had complete trust in one another. I admired how he always put his patients first – no matter what the circumstances. He also never expected anything out of anyone that he didn’t expect of himself.”

Jeri and Dr. Murphy recently retired, both after about 40 years at Children’s Mercy.

“I wanted to do something for our valuable OR nurses and honor Jeri at the same time. She dedicated her career to Children’s Mercy and left with great admiration and respect,” said Dr. Murphy, former Chief of Urological Surgery. “Children’s Mercy was a big part of my training and career. I have a great deal of fondness for the institution and want to give back.”