Heather Long
May 2023
Heather
Long
,
RN
Cancer Center
IU Health West Hospital
Avon
,
IN
United States
she was sensitive to our feelings, very genuine and she put our minds at ease.
When we reflect on what the meaning of a DAISY nurse is, one name stands now at the forefront of our minds after our interaction with her yesterday. Heather is in oncology at IU Health West (Avon) and we first met about a month ago.
Our mother was diagnosed unexpectedly with lung cancer and we found ourselves thrown into an extremely scary, daunting situation. Right out of the gate, Heather walked into the room professionally, and confident but very down to earth with a warm smile. We liked her right away. We are extremely protective of our mother who has endured many medical conditions and surgeries in the last 10 years. We shared with Heather that we could be a "little much" sometimes, she just laughed and said "No such thing. It's gonna be just fine".
As she began to prep us for the doctor's arrival she was sensitive to our feelings, very genuine and she put our minds at ease. After receiving news from the doctor that our mother has terminal cancer, Heather returned to the room with a brave face, but you could tell that she was affected. She sat very patiently through our tears and questions, and then began encouraging our mom and our family, and began shedding some tears herself. That single genuine emotional response renewed our weary hearts that there are still healthcare providers who are human. Who don't see their patients as a number. Who are genuinely compassionate people who empathize deeply with their patients. She might never know how that one act of kindness through her compassion affected us, but we thought this might be a way that we could show her.
Heather and others like her work tirelessly day in and out. I can't imagine Oncology is not filled with mountains and valleys every day as she navigates through devastating diagnoses, but then also has joy-filled tears as a patient she has followed begins to recover. We are just beginning this journey, but with a nurse like Heather at our side, we are confident that we will have all the support we need. Thank you, Heather!
Our mother was diagnosed unexpectedly with lung cancer and we found ourselves thrown into an extremely scary, daunting situation. Right out of the gate, Heather walked into the room professionally, and confident but very down to earth with a warm smile. We liked her right away. We are extremely protective of our mother who has endured many medical conditions and surgeries in the last 10 years. We shared with Heather that we could be a "little much" sometimes, she just laughed and said "No such thing. It's gonna be just fine".
As she began to prep us for the doctor's arrival she was sensitive to our feelings, very genuine and she put our minds at ease. After receiving news from the doctor that our mother has terminal cancer, Heather returned to the room with a brave face, but you could tell that she was affected. She sat very patiently through our tears and questions, and then began encouraging our mom and our family, and began shedding some tears herself. That single genuine emotional response renewed our weary hearts that there are still healthcare providers who are human. Who don't see their patients as a number. Who are genuinely compassionate people who empathize deeply with their patients. She might never know how that one act of kindness through her compassion affected us, but we thought this might be a way that we could show her.
Heather and others like her work tirelessly day in and out. I can't imagine Oncology is not filled with mountains and valleys every day as she navigates through devastating diagnoses, but then also has joy-filled tears as a patient she has followed begins to recover. We are just beginning this journey, but with a nurse like Heather at our side, we are confident that we will have all the support we need. Thank you, Heather!