When you're 75 years old, you most likely have seen more than your share of doctors, nurses, specialists, etc.  If one of your children has spina bifida occulta, a tethered spinal cord, 6 major back surgeries, EOE, severe anemia, and the other has had leukemia twice, a bone marrow transplant, WPW, degenerative disc disease, and PTSD, that number more than triples.
While many families spend their time on exotic vacations, our frequent hospitals like Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, City of Hope, DC Children's Hospital, Inova, U of Pittsburgh, U of MD, WVU, etc.  To say we've experienced everything from the worst possible care to the very best is an understatement!  Of all of these encounters and hundreds of professionals over the years, 2 hospitals, 3 doctors, and one nurse practitioner stand miles above the rest.  That nurse practitioner is Susan Fairly-Holbach at City of Hope Zion Illinois!  This woman is a true angel and one of the most brilliant I've ever met.  Few people possess such a compassionate and caring heart, and even fewer are willing to unselfishly give so much of themselves to comfort a complete stranger and her children.

I was a high school/college biology/anatomy teacher for over 40 years in a town where we had a university that started as a teacher college.  Every year, I'd get student interns to train and evaluate.  I always said that while education and training are important, the true qualities of a great teacher cannot be learned.  The same can be said of great nurses!  Compassion, patience, empathy, selflessness, willingness to go above and beyond, etc, are not learned in a class or a textbook.  We are all given special gifts or talents by our Creator that help us achieve our true mission in life.  Sometimes, we find them early; sometimes, it takes years, or we may never find them at all.  Those lucky to find them early quickly realize the career path to best utilize their talents and go on to be great leaders/innovators who outshine everyone in their field.  Sue Fairly-Holbach must have found hers shortly after birth!

I met Sue for the first time when I traveled to City of Hope after a colon cancer diagnosis.  My kids and I were petrified but as soon she walked in, our anxiety lessened.  Her reassuring manner and way of explaining everything put us at ease immediately.  At home, a 5-month appointment delay and a 7-month scheduling delay for a colonoscopy resulted in my stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis.  Realizing time was critical; Sue scheduled me for surgery that Friday, even though tests were still needed to determine whether my options were surgery first or chemo/radiation first.  That avoided any more delays and could be canceled if necessary.  She handled everything and meticulously explained every step.  Luckily, I was able to have surgery first.

When I woke up, the first person I remember seeing after my kids was Sue.  I think she was in my room checking on me a dozen times that day and night.  A day or two after surgery, when she came by in the morning, she told me she thought I had a blood clot, was putting me on meds, and ordered a CAT scan.  I told her I was fine and asked why she thought that.  She told me that when she checked on me in the middle of the night, I was sniffling, and she said that meant my brain wasn't getting enough O2.  I thought she was joking, but sure enough, after the scan, I had a blood clot in each lung! Over the next week, I think I only saw my surgeon one time and never once saw my oncologist, but Sue was in countless times making sure I was up walking, doing my breathing exercises, out of bed in a chair, checking my incisions, making sure I was eating enough.  She'd straighten my bed, make sure I was comfortable, checked all the supplies and meds were in order.  She thoroughly explained the surgery and every procedure, all the tests, and the chemo I would need next, so I understood everything.  There is no doctor or specialist I would trust more!  She answered every question and concern honestly with such commonsense examples of complex medical anatomy and physiology.  I told her she would make an amazing teacher should she want to change careers!  I felt like I was her only patient, as she was never in a hurry.  She seemed to be there 24/7 and it made my day when she came in.  I knew she genuinely cared.  If I was hurting, she'd take my mind off it by talking about our home, families, and careers.  She'd talk to and reassure my son and daughter, who were always with me. She nicknamed them my "JJ Team".  

Unfortunately, I live 12 hrs away so can't get back as often I wished or have all my chemo done there.  However, I've come back for scans, tests, some chemo, and appointments in various departments all over the hospital, etc.  They always ask me about my experience there.  What amazes me is as soon as I mention only her first name, they know exactly who I'm talking about, and their admiration and respect are obvious.  The young nurse who did my last chemo infusion told me she had the opportunity to shadow Sue once, and it was a highlight of her career. She said she and so many other nurses idolize her and consider Sue to be the absolute best of the best role models. I couldn't agree more! I truly believe God puts special angels in our path when we need them most- ones who are only with us a short time but impact our hearts and lives forever.  For me and my kids, that angel is Sue Fairly-Holbach.  No one deserves this honor and DAISY Award more than Sue Fairly Holbach!!! City of Hope is beyond blessed and fortunate to have her!