At the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Medical Oncology Clinic, nurses see their patients for a long time and develop a special bond with the patient and their family. One particular patient, a young father of three children was being seen by both the medical oncology and bone marrow transplant team. Two of the children were of school age. Due to extensive cancer treatments and household expenses, the family financially struggled. Heather took it upon herself to raise money and shop for school supplies and clothes for the kids.
The day after Thanksgiving, the young father was admitted to the University of Louisville Hospital, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Heather continued to visit him and his family often. After he became unresponsive, Heather continued to visit, holding his hand during her visit. As the month passed and his condition continued to deteriorate, Heather made sure that the family was able to pay their rent and ensure that they had Christmas presents to share with each other. Through all of this, Heather never stopped. The patient died leaving a family who deeply cared and loved him.
This, of course, wasn't just one person but a team of individuals, spanning from social work, Laura Jones, and the entire medical oncology and bone marrow transplant team, especially Janeilla. Without Heather's initiation and the amazing individuals involved, the young widowed mother and her children would have been homeless.
We celebrate your inspiration, compassion, and the impact that you have on the lives of the people you care for. Thank you, Heather, for being an extraordinary nurse.