My husband was getting his first round of Cytoxan infusion for Central Nervous System Vasculitis when I first met Elana. Going into his first infusion, he was nervous about being sick and sharing a room. He didn't know anyone who had gone through chemotherapy and was petrified that he would be sick instantly. At that time, there were very few things B and I could control. Elana recognized that and made sure to help alleviate unnecessary suffering. Elana ensured he had a private room which eliminated one of his main concerns of starting the infusion. While we couldn't bypass the long road ahead, she made sure to set the tone with compassion and joy.
When we first met, Elana was already going above and beyond not only for her patients but her team members. Cytoxan infusions is not a normal procedure on the Neurology floors and certainly not something that happens on 11300 often. The nurse taking care of B was nervous about hanging the Cytoxan so Elana stepped in. She took extra time to ensure his nurse was comfortable with the process. She took care to explain all the steps and stayed with us through the first two hours of vital checks. As the day started with a lumbar puncture and about 8 hours of fluids, it was nearly 11 pm before we started the infusion. Elana had already worked a full day, but she stayed not only for us but her team. This was when I knew that Elana took care of her team and her patients like her family.
We talked about everything but being in the hospital that night. She has the perfect blend of taking care of you clinically and remembering that you are more than a patient in front of her today. I can only imagine how exhausted she must have been, but she continued to put our needs first. From that day forward, my husband looked forward to seeing Elana which came with a side of Cytoxan.
Over the next 6 months, we would come for the monthly infusion. B and I were always welcomed with big smiles and hugs by the staff. The culture of joy is something I attribute to Elana's leadership style and dedication to show compassion first. As soon as B was settled in, Elana would come in and pick up the conversation where they left off. She has a gift of connecting with people. Elana knew that B was a 28-year-old who wanted to be just that - normal and talk about anything beyond his diagnosis.
What impresses me most is Elana always checking in with me after infusions to make sure how he was feeling. She would want to make sure everything was ok clinically and more importantly wanted to know how life was going. Cytoxan infusions and Central Nervous System Vasculitis was a small part of who my husband was. It was the part that Elana was able to treat, but she never forgot that he was much much more than the patient she treated.
We are one year past chemo infusions and my husband is back to life outside of hospitals. Elana continues to ask about him every time we are together. She is invested in our journey. She wants to hear about navigating the ups and downs. She celebrated our victories and always wants to remove unnecessary suffering in our lows. I thank God for Elana setting our lifelong path with joy and compassion.
Elana Ellis will always be an integral part of our life. Not only was she an essential part of treating B, but she now serves as an inspiration to me in the work I do. Every day, before jumping into the hectic life of Patient Experience, I anchor myself to those moments of witnessing Elana's care for my husband. I think about the many patients we treat and remember what it felt like to be in their shoes.