Manal is our breast coordinator in oncology clinic. She is a very kind person, supportive, helpful, always available to discuss any concerns, and takes the extra step to help the patients. She is well liked by her patients and their families. She helps us a lot with translating between Arabic and English language at the clinics and I really like her way of communicating with the patients and their families. She always speaks gently and listens.

Recently she showed a very nice example of her kindness and caring with one of the patients who came to the clinic from Madinah (330 kms / 205 miles from the hospital) with broken knees on a stretcher accompanied by her husband. The physician ordered a biopsy and the radiology department gave her a late appointment. She called the chairman to describe the patient’s situation and he agreed to do the biopsy the next day. The patient was very thankful but said it was quite difficult to go back to Madinah and then come back the next day since they did not have any relatives living in Jeddah. Manal contacted the physician and asked him if he could help. He told her to try to admit the patient, although the floor was very busy. Manal contacted the floor to check the situation. The Charge Nurse said they were very busy and could not receive a patient at that time. Manal convinced them that she would do everything needed for the patient before admission to minimize the floor nurses’ work. She arranged for the biopsy and pushed the patient herself on the stretcher to the laboratory to do the lab work, then contacted the admissions office to arrange for the room on her way home because it was after her duty hours. She arrived home and was still calling from her mobile phone to continue the arrangement. The next day the patient’s husband came to her office to thank her for the help she offered.

I nominate Manal for the great contribution to caring for the patients, even after her duty has ended.