I have been undergoing cancer treatments for over three years and have been blessed to have the nurses here at Mt Sinai. Every time I come in for chemotherapy, I have one of four different nurses, and they are all great! However, it’s what Arlene does that makes me feel special. These ladies are extremely busy, and they serve a very overpopulated and underserved community that is not exactly wealthy. When I walk in for my treatment, I barely make it in the room before I hear the happiest voice you have ever heard, greeting me with so much warmth and joy. She knew my name before I was ever her patient, and even when she isn’t my nurse for the day, she offers me kindness, a meal, or a drink. She goes above and beyond for her patients and rarely ever sits down.

Even when Arlene is exhausted from running back and forth and has her hands full, she is never too busy to be kind and drop what she’s doing to be of assistance. This last week, they have been switching over to a new system and learning as they go, and I can tell that it has been very difficult, but that hasn’t stopped her from doing more than what’s expected of her. Today alone, there was a patient who was upset because she found out that the shuttle that always picked her up to bring her to treatment won’t do it anymore because she is now out of the district. Arlene was quickly on the phone, seeing how she could help her. By the end of the patient’s visit, she had a ride home and rides for her upcoming appointments. As a patient who hasn’t had many things to look forward to because of her diagnosis, Arlene is a bright light that I get to look forward to in an otherwise dark situation. Thank you for listening and I hope you can see how special and necessary nurses like her and the others in this department are.