Our 17-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of osteosarcoma in her right shoulder. It took several weeks for a true diagnosis. Her pain was so excruciating at times and she needed more care than what a mother could give when it came to showering and such. Although all of the nurses on the Hem/Onc floor are absolutely fantastic, several of them “stuck out”.

One of our very special nurses was Julie. She always had a smile on her face, laughed with us, and always listened to not only J’s needs but our needs as a family as well. I remember one afternoon specifically when my husband and I came back from a break; we came into the room with singing and laughter coming from the bathroom. The laughter we hadn't heard in many weeks due to such pain that she was having.

J and Julie have/had such an unbreakable bond. If she wasn’t our nurse assigned to us the week we were there for chemo she would always come and see us on her break or after she would get off work. Unfortunately, J had to make a very difficult decision in November and that was to amputate her right shoulder. This surgery would save her life and keep cancer from spreading.

When we came back after surgery for her chemo Julie had decorated the door of the room that she was going to be in for the week by writing "Welcome Back" and "We have missed you" on her door. That alone made me cry as I knew this was becoming our second home. J finally finished chemo. Julie, as well as many other nurses on that floor, came in on their days off for her bell-ringing end of chemo day. She was able to have her port removed. We were able to let Julie know that we were in the house and she came to see us. What a reunion it was.

Julie is a very special nurse as her smile is genuine and she truly cares for her patients and makes them feel like they are the only ones that she is caring for. We love and miss Julie so much. She will forever be in our hearts!