I was 36 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with AML, so I was induced with the plan of being transferred to the BMT floor to start treatment after a short stay in the mother/baby department. Shannon was the first nurse that I met from that floor. She instantly helped me feel at ease while assisting with my bone marrow biopsy.

A few days later, Shannon transferred me, but there was confusion among staff about whether I'd be able to take the hospital breast pump with me. Shannon was a fierce advocate for my needs, taking time out of her busy schedule to locate and borrow pumping supplies from a different floor, despite some resistance she received. During a time when I felt very vulnerable and hopeless, she made sure I had what I needed to feed my baby and to comfortably care for myself when my breastfeeding journey was ended by chemotherapy.

Finally, Shannon was a welcoming presence for my 3-year-old daughter when she came to visit. She even gifted her with a pretend doctor kit, which has accompanied us on every hospital stay and has helped my daughter process what is happening to her mom through play. We cannot say enough good things about how Shannon has blessed our family's life through her calm presence, her optimistic attitude, and her advocacy when things don't go right.