I met Amanda the first week I began receiving chemo and I was in shock. I had a port placed and gotten my first bag; Amanda seemed to get it. She was so empathetic, friendly, above and beyond knowledgeable, relayed all the information to me and answered endless questions and spent time with me. I was terrified and she lessened that for me. I always feel safe with her. My experience of her is she "knows" oncology in a way I haven't experienced.
Amanda exemplifies professionalism and obvious intelligence. But it is more than that. She is consistent in her kindness, doesn't ever show stress in an obvious stressful time, she seems like she commands authority in a way that is respectful. She is confident but not arrogant; kind, but not a pushover. I hear her in other rooms, and she makes people laugh during some of the hardest times of their life. That is a gift. I have been lucky to have Amanda during each of my stays at least one or two days. She always presents kind, fun loving, professional, understanding, intelligent and with high integrity.
Amanda goes out of her way to stop by even when I am not her assigned patient. One day I walked into my room to find it full of decorations. Amanda took the time to make that day special for me. She will never know how that touched my heart. Amanda has also taken the time to get to know my husband. He shared with me that she asks how he is holding up, acknowledged how hard this is for spouses. She laughs with my Mom and will listen to me complain and vent on hard days about family drama, life, or cancer.
While they each embody their own strengths, Amanda displays so many. I believe JMC is lucky to have her. I know each of my family members would advocate for her in the same way. I am so grateful to have met her. Simply, she was such a part of saving my life. I will never be able to thank her enough for the role she played and how she has touched my life. I will never forget her. She is truly a special woman.