You have MANY extraordinary nurses in the Hughes Cancer Center but Michelle really stands out. You cannot pick just one special situation because Michelle is multifaceted. When we first met Michelle there existed a situation between the pharmacy and the insurance company. We had three business days before the window closed for my husband to begin oral chemo at the same time as the IV infused chemo which was optimum. Michelle made at least 12 phone calls in 3 business days along with everything else she was doing. To make a long story short, the chemo arrived by 10:30 the day before chemo began.
"Can't be done" doesn't exist in Michelle's vocabulary. She never takes no for an answer. No one possesses a greater drive to make sure each patient receives what they need when they need it. She makes sure each person and caregiver is educated on the use, side effects, what constitutes an emergency, how to prevent cross-contamination among family members, and she makes sure you have all the numbers for the offices, doctors, emergency numbers, and the numbers, locations, and hours of operation of the LVHN labs in the area.
Her patience knows no bounds. She makes you feel like you are the only person she is concerned with, she doesn't rush you, she makes sure at the end of her explanation(s) that you completely understand what confused you before. She probably has 500 plus patients, but you wouldn't know it when she is assisting you.
She is compassionate, professional, highly educated, energetic, and her high level of competence makes you feel when you leave the office that it is indeed possible that we might survive this war.
She goes above and beyond each and every day. On more than one occasion she has called to tell us something because she was going to be off the next day when we came in, but the next day there she was. I would say to her, "I thought you were off today." And she would say, "There were a few things I wanted to take care of." Once again, putting patients' needs above her own. I can't remember an IV Infusion that she didn't come in and check on my husband and other patients.
There is not one situation, there are hundreds. She is a class act, and I praise God that He blessed us with her in our lives. She is a definite "Warrior" in the battle against cancer.
***
Michelle ZeRuth is an oncology nurse specialist who manages the oral chemotherapy program and education for chemotherapy. This letter truly made me proud of the team, but, Michelle's impact on the wife and the patient comes shining through and this patient would not have had such a positive experience without Michelle's caring, compassion, kindness, integrity, and competence. Here are a few excerpts of why Michelle ZeRuth is a DAISY Nurse. Her PRIDE behaviors are demonstrated in everything she does, every day she goes above and beyond with each patient to ensure they receive the proper medication, education, and support during the whole course of treatment. She serves as a liaison to all the medical oncologists at the cancer center. She is in a vital role that comes with some pressure but always has a smile, always caring, compassionate, and patient and probably the best patient advocate I've ever met or seen.
This letter, I refer to, was sent to our President regarding their experience. This patient had actually been another facility and was not impressed and then another where they had surgery and some oncology. They were then referred/recommended they come to the Hughes Cancer Center where it was closer to home. In the letter written which was five pages, Michelle ZeRuth was mentioned approximately nine times individually throughout the document. A few excerpts of this incredible letter are as follows:
"The insurance companies being what they are, Michelle made 12 phone calls in a matter of a few days trying to get approval from the insurance company to begin his oral chemotherapy. I would like to say a few things about Michelle here, no one possesses a greater drive to make sure each patient receives the medication they need, and in the time they need it.
Michelle provides the education to use the medicine in as a way that is most beneficial to the patient without making you feel like you were stupid, or a waste of her time.
Michelle is always available, she gives you her phone number to make sure that you were aware of emergency numbers, procedures during an emergency, and what constitutes an emergency.
Michelle's compassion, professionalism, energy and confidence, and competence make you feel when you walk out of her office, that maybe we will survive this terrible disease, cancer.
Michelle works extremely hard and my husband's chemo was delivered on Thursday morning of the week we needed to begin oral and IV chemo on Friday. Don't ever let an insurance company tell Michelle it can't be done - it's not in her vocabulary.
On Friday we began with a visit with Michelle who showed us the two different doses of oral chemo and how to take each of those for 14 days with the week off. She and the doctor went over the possible side effects and adverse reactions to watch for and explained when it was imperative to call the symptoms of sepsis and urgency of getting treatment for it, if it happened. My husband developed side effects during treatment and I called Michelle about the lumps in his arms and the level of pain he was having with them. Michelle asked me to send pictures while she went to brief the doctor. I sent the pictures and she got him an appointment with the physician assistant, who was very aware of the side effects and chemo. At our next visit, Michelle came down on her own without calling her to look at his arms. She said that they were different from earlier in the week and in different areas and some areas were red, other areas looked worse earlier in the week. Immediately, she went and brought the doctor over to see his arms and again educated us. She again explained and reassured the effects of chemo and the need to maintain a healthy level of white blood cells the body needs to fight off infection because the chemo comprises the immune system. The doctor made the adjustments. My husband came home with a sore neck. I called Michelle again. She spoke with the doctor then called us back. They had us go for an ultrasound which ended up being a blocked artery.
Michelle resonates with kindness and there's kindness all around the Hughes Cancer Center. Because of my experience, I am now an American Cancer Society volunteer driver - most weeks I drive 4-6 times. The reason I even knew this volunteer opportunity existed was because of the staff at the cancer center.
Michelle has not seen this letter, no one at the cancer center has and I know we are not a typical cancer story. We are also aware that this is just the beginning of a long road. But, if cancer raises its ugly head again there's a crack team in East Stroudsburg, PA and 15 minutes from our house on a good day - 25 on a bad day, that has a staff that will bend over backward for every patient. Every time I drive a patient there I know in my heart that they are in good hands. Thank you for what you have provided for the community on both sides of East Brown Street. I honestly believe I wouldn't still have my husband without the Hughes Team. We owe a debt that we can never begin to repay but will do our best to pay it forward each and every day. You have my word."