Rachael Petersen, RN

I have a husband that has been fighting metastasis colorectal cancer for 7 years… I had a bowel change. Immediately I thought of cancer! (My maternal grandpa died of colorectal cancer at age 49!) My husband is currently in hospice. I knew I couldn’t go down that road… so, I called insurance and requested a colonoscopy. The whole time before, all I could think of is the arrangements we had to make for my husband, knowing I am going to lose him, and how our kids (and grandkids) couldn’t lose both!

The night before, as we all know, was very poopy (literally). I get to Madison at 6:45, check in, and then Rachael came in! Immediately, I was relaxed; she was doing my IV, and we talked during it… found out she lost her dad at age 19…(she missed him, but more mourned for her siblings; they were younger.) I told her about my husband of 37 years, and why I wanted a colonoscopy… she then said, “I am sorry… I wish there are words that can help, there just aren’t.” Then she said she herself suffered cancer 10 years prior, so she truly knew part of what we were dealing with. And she gave me a hug! Straight from the heart… I felt it! I really want her to know that in a world of crap, she made a difference! A huge difference! Today I didn’t feel the inflation, politics, I didn’t feel like another number… I felt like I mattered! Rachael, you are the true hero today! I loved every second of you!