February 2026 Honoree
Alekzandra Olsen, RN
I want to share a heartwarming story that Z’s Nurse Ally shared today regarding a connection she made with one of her patients (be prepared, you will probably cry).
He has a history of pancreatic cancer and a prior Whipple. He was undergoing surgery to place a PEG tube and was told that if the two could not be placed, it was most likely a bad sign. When he returned to the unit, he asked about the two and quickly realized it wasn't in place. He learned the cancer has advanced and has now decided to go to hospice.
Ally and this patient talked about many topics, including his love for barbecues, the importance of family, and even discovered they shared the same birthday. She shared that she was expecting a baby girl this summer, and he told her about how 50 years of marriage with his wife will never feel like long enough.
He told Allie that he would be watching over her and her baby from above, and if the baby girl happened to share the same birthday as both of them, to say hi to him after delivery and know he had a hand in making that happen. He thanked her for being with him during this difficult time and how the little things we do to help make all the difference. It was clear they both touched each other’s lives.
He has a history of pancreatic cancer and a prior Whipple. He was undergoing surgery to place a PEG tube and was told that if the two could not be placed, it was most likely a bad sign. When he returned to the unit, he asked about the two and quickly realized it wasn't in place. He learned the cancer has advanced and has now decided to go to hospice.
Ally and this patient talked about many topics, including his love for barbecues, the importance of family, and even discovered they shared the same birthday. She shared that she was expecting a baby girl this summer, and he told her about how 50 years of marriage with his wife will never feel like long enough.
He told Allie that he would be watching over her and her baby from above, and if the baby girl happened to share the same birthday as both of them, to say hi to him after delivery and know he had a hand in making that happen. He thanked her for being with him during this difficult time and how the little things we do to help make all the difference. It was clear they both touched each other’s lives.
Thank you, Alekzandra, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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